China's Premier Li Qiang waves as he arrives at Adelaide Airport on June 15, 2024, in Adelaide, Australia. Li's visit to Australia aims to strengthen bilateral ties and address outstanding trade and consular issues, including the removal of remaining trade barriers and the release of imprisoned Australian democracy blogger Yang Hengjuno, marking a significant step towards stabilizing the relationship between the two nations. The visit also highlights the growing importance of economic cooperation and the need for dialogue on security concerns, particularly in the context of China's increasing influence in the Pacific region. The visit marks the first high-level diplomatic by a Chinese leader to Australia since 2017. Asanka Ratnayake/Pool via REUTERS
