Malcolm Turnbull and Chinese President Xi Jinping have butted heads on foreign investment and Beijing’s disputed claims over the South China Sea at an global summit.
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Mrs May said that leaders of India, Mexico, South Korea and Singapore had also told her that they would welcome talks on removing barriers to trade.
Discussing the South China Sea, where China is militarising coral atolls and ignoring a recent worldwide court decision, Mr Turnbull said all parties should exercise restraint and avoid escalation, while President Xi said he hoped Australia would uphold an objective and just position.
Turnbull said he discussed the South China Sea with Xi, and the importance of complying with global law.
“Australia is determined to provide Britain with all the support and assistance that we can”.
“This also accords with Australia’s own interests”, China’s Foreign Ministry quoted Xi as telling Turnbull.
Mr Turnbull believes a peaceful South China Sea is essential for the future of trade and security and economic growth go hand-in-hand.
China’s Foreign Ministry responded that the United States should drop its “double standards on the South China Sea” and play a constructive role in maintaining regional peace and stability.
President Xi told the opening of the summit a spirit of unity and partnership eight years ago had pulled the world economy back from the precipice.
“It will be by far the strongest military presence for a very, very long time”, Mr Turnbull said. The way I look at this, I don’t just take an instant decision.
China, Australia’s biggest trading partner, hit out at Canberra after it prevented two Chinese firms from paying more than more than A$10bn (£5.94bn) for a controlling stake in its largest energy network Ausgrid amid “national security” concerns.
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Mr Turnbull told Mr Xi that it was easier to invest in Australia than nearly any other country, noting that 950 Chinese investments in Australia had been approved since 2005, worth $183 billion.
