Hong Kong CNN  —  Australia’s relationship with China has been strained in recent years, with severe consequences for various sectors. The Chinese government imposed trade restrictions, which devastated the Australian wine industry, affected farmers and fishers, and resulted in billions of dollars in lost trade. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is now embarking on a significant trip to Beijing, the first by an Australian leader in seven years. This visit is seen as a step towards stabilizing the relationship between the two countries after years of economic tension. The four-day trip, beginning on Saturday, will include meetings with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, as well as visits to Beijing and Shanghai. Both countries have started to move past the diplomatic deadlock that escalated in 2020 when Beijing implemented trade restrictions on Australian exports. These measures were perceived as political retaliation for former prime minister Scott Morrison’s call for an international inquiry into the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Foreign Ministry of China blamed Australia for the trade issues, accusing it of violating international norms. However, there are incentives for both sides to ease economic tensions, and they have been working towards that goal in recent months. The outcome of their relationship has significant implications for the Indo-Pacific region, with a stable communication channel between China and Australia potentially playing a role in maintaining stability in the increasingly contentious region. There are a range of tensions that will cast a shadow over the meetings, including concerns over Chinese espionage and political interference in Australia, ambitions in the Pacific Islands, and the detention of Australian citizens. The relationship has been further strained by Australia’s growing security ties with the US. Despite these challenges, analysts believe the meetings could facilitate expanded communication, but are unlikely to completely mend the fragile relationship. The visit by Albanese also marks 50 years since the first official visit by an Australian leader to Communist China, symbolizing progress in the bilateral relations. During the trip, Albanese will likely push for the lifting of remaining trade restrictions, discuss China’s activities in the South China Sea, and raise concerns about the detention of Australian citizens. For China, the visit provides an opportunity to seek increased access to Australia’s resources and renewable energy sectors. The Chinese leadership may also seek support from Albanese for China’s entry into the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a free trade pact involving countries on both sides of the Pacific. The visit aligns with China’s efforts to repair relations with other US-friendly economic partners, such as those in Europe, in order to prevent them from aligning too closely with the US on China policy. Albanese’s visit to Beijing comes less than two weeks after his meeting with President Joe Biden in Washington, where they expressed shared concerns about China’s activities in the South China Sea and emphasized the importance of the AUKUS security partnership. As Albanese seeks to repair ties with China, he will need to navigate the delicate balance between these alliances and China’s suspicions. The outcome of the visit could influence the atmosphere of the upcoming high-stakes talks between Xi and Biden. And as China marks this milestone with Australia, it may reflect on the results of its economic campaign against the country and the implications for its international standing.