Chinese ambassador to Australia responds to Darwin Port issue

China's Landbridge Group had a decade ago secured the lease for Darwin Port through an open and transparent bidding process, fully compliant with Australian laws and market principles, Chinese Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian said in response to media questions related to the port in Australia's Northern Territory.

Xiao was responding to a question about how the government of Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had during its election campaign pledged to revoke Landbridge's port operating rights, according to an embassy statement on Sunday.

Albanese mentioned in April during the federal election campaign that his government was working on a plan to force the sale of Darwin Port from its Chinese owner on the grounds of national interests, local media reported.

Landbridge, a Chinese firm, in 2015 signed a deal with the Northern Territory government for a 99-year lease of the port following a bidding process.

The Chinese side has consistently maintained communication with both the Australian federal government and the Northern Territory government through diplomatic channels, Xiao said.

Over the past decade, Landbridge has made significant investments in maintaining and building Darwin Port's infrastructure, optimizing its operations and management, and expanding its customer sources, he said.

The efforts have brought remarkable improvements to the port, turning its financial situation from losses to profits and contributing positively to local economic and social development, Xiao said, adding that such an enterprise and project deserves encouragement, not punishment.

It is ethically questionable to lease the port when it was unprofitable and then seek to reclaim it once it becomes profitable, he said.

Xiao said the lease agreement is a commercial contract and he expressed the hope that the Australian side will view the Darwin Port project objectively, honor its binding commitments under the contract and respect the autonomous decisions made by businesses based on development needs.

China and Australia are comprehensive strategic partners and the two sides should foster mutual trust, as mutually beneficial cooperation aligns with their shared interests, he said.

Xiao expressed the hope that the Australian federal government and the Northern Territory government will create a fair, transparent and predictable business environment for Chinese enterprises operating in Australia.