<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="http://9news.com.au/china" rel="" target="" title="Chinese"><span>Chinese</span></a><span> Premier Li Qiang has called on his country and </span><a href="http://9news.com.au/australia" rel="" target="" title="Australia"><span>Australia</span></a><span> to work closer together in the face of "destabilising factors" and growing "protectionist measures".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The comments at a roundtable with Australian Prime Minister </span><a href="http://9news.com.au/anthony-albanese" rel="" target="" title="Anthony Albanese"><span>Anthony Albanese</span></a><span> and leading business figures from Australia and China came amid the backdrop of </span><a href="http://9news.com.au/usa" rel="" target="" title="US"><span>US</span></a><span> President </span><a href="http://9news.com.au/donald-trump" rel="" target="" title="Donald Trump's"><span>Donald Trump's</span></a><span> unpredictable tariff wars and trade declarations.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>China has been one of the hardest hit with import taxes in Trump's attempts to favour American production, while Australia has escaped relatively unscathed, with the exception of some sector-specific imposts.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/waterloo-investigation-after-man-dies-while-crews-try-to-sedate-him/0e16dfcc-e553-468a-9c4c-f5b35b6dbd99"><strong><span>Partner films man's final moments before death in ambulance</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Li said there was a greater need for China-Australia co-operation amid "headwinds" for economic globalisation and increasing "trade frictions".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The international economic and trade landscape now is undergoing profound and complex changes," he said at the Australia-China CEO Roundtable in Beijing last night.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Destabilising factors and uncertainties are growing."</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/china-australia-update-li-qiang-calls-for-deeper-cooperation-with-australia-amid-global-donald-trump-tariff-uncertainty/419001d0-48a7-4714-9ac3-55452163f114" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Only last year, Canberra was still calling on Beijing to drop the last of the tariffs on billions of dollars of Australian exports levied in response to Australia's call for an international inquiry into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But last night Qiang was highlighting the "fairly strong resilience and vitality" of the Australia-China trade relationship "despite some twists and turns" and calling for even more co-operation and trade.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Protectionist measures are on the rise in the world, and China and Australia are committed to advancing trade and investment liberalisation and facilitation," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/warana-sudden-death-man-found-dead-in-home-on-sunshine-coast-police-queensland-news/048d117f-4779-4255-91e3-47eff15384dc"><strong><span>Tragic call to neighbour to learn partner killed</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Earlier in the day, political analyst Simon Jackman told Today China's approach sent a signal to Australia: "Hey, we're a safe pair of hands compared to your, hitherto, number one strategic partner and ally of the United States."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>While Australians still widely view the US as a more trustworthy partner than China, the gap between the two superpowers has narrowed dramatically in Trump's second term.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Lowy Institute annual poll released last month found trust in China had increased three points to 20 per cent while the US plummeted 20 points to 36 per cent. Just 16 per cent of those surveyed said they had "a lot" or "some" confidence in XI, compared to a quarter for Trump.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/young-workers-exploitation-melbourne-law-school-report/1f6668a5-24f6-4a7e-b8d1-948ffe413508" rel="" target="" title=""><strong><span>One group of Aussies exploited at 'alarming' rate by dodgy bosses</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Albanese hailed a doubling of Australian exports to China in the 10 years since a free-trade agreement was signed and the "boost" to exporters from Beijing's tariffs being dropped.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He said it was important for the countries to "learn from shared successes" but "plan for common challenges".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This gathering will send a very important message back to Australia about the significance that we place as a government in this engagement and collaboration in the interests of both of our nations," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"But also, I think it's fair to say, in today's turbulent world, in the interest of global economic activity as well."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Business Council of Australia chief executive Bran Black said it was significant that the event, hosted by BCA and the China Development Bank, was being held in Beijing for the first time since 2016.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We want to see more trade, more Australian jobs, and a real future for Australian products in China - from decarbonisation of steel, to beef and rice products - and that was reflected in our discussion here in Beijing," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"One in four Australian jobs is trade dependent and so it is vital we increase trade opportunities with all our trading partners, including China."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The roundtable came after </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/anthony-albanese-xi-jinping-meeting-beijing-china-port-of-darwin-ownership/8b08fe35-f9c4-4635-8117-ffea3f271f2d"><span>Albanese's much anticipated meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping</span></a><span> earlier in the day.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f"><em><strong><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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