Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has added his name to a long list of world leaders by visiting the iconic Great Wall of China, calling the moment a tribute to the endurance of Chinese civilisation.
“We are literally standing on history,” Mr Albanese said during a press conference held on-site.
“History that reflects the depth and longevity of Chinese culture and its remarkable achievements.”
Accompanied by his fiancée Jodie Haydon, Mr Albanese toured the UNESCO World Heritage site following a day of high-level talks in Beijing with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang. The visit is part of a well-established diplomatic tradition, where leaders symbolically engage with China’s rich heritage.
World Leaders Who’ve Walked the Wall
Mr Albanese’s visit echoes those of several prominent global figures:
- Gough Whitlam (1971): As opposition leader, Whitlam’s visit to the Great Wall marked a significant step in reshaping Australia’s foreign policy and opening dialogue with China during the Cold War.
- Richard Nixon (1972): The then-US president’s historic trip to China, including a stop at the Great Wall, paved the way for formal US-China diplomatic relations and a realignment in global geopolitics.
- Queen Elizabeth II (1986): The queen became the first British monarch to visit China, walking the Wall alongside the Duke of Edinburgh during their six-day state visit.
- Bill Clinton (1998): The US president toured the Wall in June, reinforcing diplomatic ties with China during a period of economic and political cooperation.
- George W. Bush (2002): The 43rd US president included the Great Wall in his presidential itinerary, symbolising continued engagement with Beijing.
- Vladimir Putin (2002): The Russian leader also visited the Wall, reflecting Russia’s ongoing strategic relationship with China.
- Barack Obama (2009): Obama famously described the Great Wall as “magical,” breaking away from his guides to walk the snow-covered path alone, captivated by its historical significance.
Panda Diplomacy Resurfaces
Before arriving at the Great Wall, Mr Albanese visited a panda breeding and conservation facility in Chengdu, part of China’s longstanding “panda diplomacy” strategy.
There, he met Fu Ni, a panda previously housed at Adelaide Zoo for 15 years before returning to China in 2023. The encounter underscores the symbolic role pandas have played in fostering goodwill between Australia and China.
This tradition goes back decades — former Prime Minister Bob Hawke visited the Chengdu Zoo in 1986, where China offered to loan two pandas for Australia’s 1988 bicentennial celebrations.
A Diplomatic Blend of History and Symbolism
Mr Albanese’s visit highlights the continued significance of symbolic diplomacy in Australia-China relations — from ancient walls to beloved animals — while also echoing historical steps taken by his predecessors on the global stage.
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