Tony Abbott: Making New Friends Doesn't Mean Losing Old Ones

Australian PM Tony Abbott

(Beijing) – Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott stressed closer trade and investment relations with China during his four-day visit to the country in early April, and one of the major reasons for his trip was to promote stagnant free-trade negotiations between the countries.

The visit to China was the last leg of a journey that also took Abbott to Japan and South Korea. While in China, Abbott met President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang, and other senior officials and business leaders. During a meeting in the southern island province of Hainan, Abbott and Li reportedly agreed to speed up free trade talks.