Xi greets Albanese on reelection as PM

BEIJING/CANBERRA — Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a message to Anthony Albanese on Tuesday, congratulating him on his reelection as Australian Prime Minister, and calling for enhanced cooperation between China and Australia.

Xi said that over the past three years, he and Albanese have met and had in-depth discussions on strategic, comprehensive and directional issues concerning the development of China-Australia relations, and have reached important common understandings, providing strategic guidance for the improvement and development of bilateral ties.

Further strengthened cooperation between the two countries holds importance for achieving their shared development and promoting peace and stability in the world, Xi said.

Xi said he hopes to work with Albanese for a steady development of China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership to better benefit the people of both countries.

Premier Li Qiang also sent a congratulatory message to Albanese on the same day, saying the Chinese side hopes to work with the new Australian government toward bilateral relations that are more mature, stable and fruitful.

Albanese, his Cabinet, outer ministry and assistant ministers were officially sworn in to their roles by Governor-General Sam Mostyn, the representative of the British monarchy in Australia, at a ceremony at the Government House in Canberra on Tuesday morning.

During the ceremony, the 42 members of the ministry took the oath of office, declaring they will "well and truly serve" the Commonwealth of Australia in their respective offices.

The 42 members consist of 23 members of the Cabinet, the innermost sanctum of the government, seven members of the outer ministry and 12 assistant ministers.

The Cabinet and outer ministry are largely unchanged from the end of Albanese's first term, with the vast majority of senior leadership figures continuing in their roles, including Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles, Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong.

Announcing the list of ministers on Monday, Albanese said that it was the largest Labor caucus, referring to the number of the party's politicians elected to the federal parliament, in history following the landslide result at the May 3 election.

He said the ministers and party had an "extraordinary opportunity "to change Australia "for the better".

Among the changes from Albanese's previous ministry is the appointment of Michelle Rowland as attorney general, replacing Mark Dreyfus who was dumped from the ministry along with former science and industry minister Ed Husic due to factional negotiations.

Wang Qingyun in Beijing contributed to this story.

Xinhua