anthony albanese and li qiang met in a ceremonial welcome on the forecourt of parliament house. just on the outskirts, though, protesters gathered during the 19—gun salute, some holding chinese flags, while human rights advocates protested against the visit. the two leaders have agreed across a range of non—binding agreements to stabilise their relationship, from climate change to trade and even panda diplomacy. here's what albanese had to say after their round table talks. he also exchanged views today on our region and the world, building our understanding of our respective positions and perspectives. australia advocates that we should all work together to promote original valance when a country dominates and the country is dominated —— original balance. i've made it as nations with different histories, political systems and values, we will co—operate with china where we can, disagree where we must and engage in the national interest. let's speak to ryan neelam, director of public opinion and foreign policy program at the lowy institute in sydney. good to have you on the programme. first of all, ryan, just for our global audience, explain why this relationship between china and australia is so important for both sides. thank you for having me on the programme, sally. it's clearly an important relationship for any country but for australia, china is australia's largest trading partner, it's also a key country in the region, in australia's own region. that presence of china and its stature in the region, its ambitions in the region have led to some of the tensions that you mentioned there in your introduction with australia. and barely an international issue which, whether from climate change to the rules—based international order, doesn't involve china in some way. so for australia, china is a critical partner on the economic front but also the political and security front, it needs to work with it or it needs to find a way forward on areas of disagreement they continue but for china, it looks towards the australia relationship as a key supplier of many of the critical minerals, the raw materials that it needs to maintain its economy and to maintain its advantage in some of the industries that it is seeking to dominate in the future, including on al, quantum and the computing power that relies on some of those critical minerals. so, for both sides, there is an element of interdependence and we've seen, as you said, the relationship has come out of a very frosty period. it is on a better footing now but some of the tensions that led to the breakdown in relations continue and have not gone away. to what extent is prime _ and have not gone away. to what extent is prime minister- extent is prime minister albanese a part of this process where the thawing has kicked in, as it were?— in, as it were? yeah, well, look, the _ in, as it were? yeah, well, look, the circuit-breaker. in, as it were? yeah, well, j look, the circuit-breaker in look, the circuit—breaker in the downward spiral of relationship was the election of the albanese government which provided a way for beijing to climb down from some of the punitive trade measures it had put in place against australian exports and it allowed it to take a step back from some of the more antagonistic approaches we saw towards australia over the several years. towards australia over the severalyears. now, towards australia over the several years. now, why did that happen? part of it reflects a broader recalibration by beijing. it certainly must recognise that the aggressive tone or wolf warrior diplomacy wasn't yielding the results that is sought. it was pushing allies of the united states in asia are particularly australia, japan, south korea, the philippines, closer towards the united states and it must see that that is not actually in its interests. but at the same time, china is facing a whole range of other challenges. we know it is facing significant economic challenges at home and its competition with the united states continue to sharpen and there's unpredictability there and in a way it's looking to neutralise or minimise, if it cannot neutralise, problems on its list. australia is one part of that broader picture. fik. it of that broader picture. 0k. it is seeking _ of that broader picture. 0k. it is seeking to _ of that broader picture. 0k. it is seeking to have a more stable footing.— is seeking to have a more stable footing. brian, thank ou, stable footing. brian, thank you. indeed. _ stable footing. brian, thank you, indeed, for— stable footing. brian, thank you, indeed, for your - stable footing. brian, thank. you, indeed, for your analysis. we shall have more on this later on in the programme. we will be talking about the trade relationship between china and australia which has hit a record level in the past year. we will dig deeper into the trade relationship in business today. however, let's take a look at what's on the agenda in the uk today. we're halfway through the general election period, with most parties now having released their ma nifestos. today, reform uk is expected to set out its election policies, including pledges to freeze non—essential immigration and cut taxes. the party says its promises would be funded by initiatives such as scrapping net zero targets and reducing government waste. in the day's other campaigning, labour will highlight its promise to set up a national wealth fund to create 650,000 jobs over the next five years. the scheme would invest more than £7 billion to support the steel industry, the automotive industry and build supply chains. meanwhile, prime minister rishi sunak will be campaigning in east yorkshire, the east midlands and east of england. so, another busy week gets under way. political correspondent harry farley has more on what to expect from campaigning this week. the main opposition party labour are focusing on their economic plans and we will see that for the rest of the week, rachel reeves the shadow chancellor here in the uk will be setting targets for how much business investment she hopes to get in the uk. the conservatives have announced most of their main policies and we not expecting any major new policy and instead, theirfocus is on attacking the labour party, attacking labour's plans on energy in particular, arguing that scrapping oil and gas licenses in the north sea would risk tax revenues, labour say that's rubbish and they argue their plans for a windfall tax on oil and gas companies here in the uk would increase tax revenues but i think it gives you a bit of a flavour of the debate we can expect to see over the next few weeks. most of the parties have their manifestoes out, most of their manifestoes out, most of the policies have been announced and now, we are really into the state of the campaign where parties are attacking each other�*s policies, ratherthan attacking each other�*s policies, rather than outlining new ones of their own. and we will have more on that in business today. in the meantime, england fans have been celebrating through the night following their 1—0 win over serbia kicking off their 2024 euros campaign on the right note. if you look at this morning's front pages, it isjude bellingham that dominates. he scored the only goal in the first half. the real madrid player picked out a pass from bukayo saka. cheering and applause. and these were the jubilant scenes at an england fan zone in london as the goal went in. gareth southgate's side are seen as one of the favourites to win the euros, having reached the final in the last tournament. joining me now is a sports journalist for the telegraph, uche amako. good to have you on the programme. give us your take on this first match for england. from your point of view, how did it go? i from your point of view, how did it go?— from your point of view, how did it go? i thought we played 0k. it wasn't _ did it go? i thought we played 0k. it wasn't totally _ 0k. it wasn't totally convincing but all that matters is they got the three points inaudible petition on the right foot. had an opportunity to play better so far in the tournament but as long as we got the win and got them going and now they can in automatic things i didn't quite get right in the first game. i things i didn't quite get right in the first game.— in the first game. i watched the first half— in the first game. i watched the first half and _ in the first game. i watched the first half and then - in the first game. i watched i the first half and then because of my very early start of my working day i kind of went to sleep and wake, hoping and praying for the best for england, but i heard the second half, they were not as — it was a bit lacklustre for england and close moments where serbia could have scored? in and close moments where serbia could have scored?— could have scored? in fairness to serbia. _ could have scored? in fairness to serbia, they _ could have scored? in fairness to serbia, they came - could have scored? in fairness to serbia, they came out - could have scored? in fairness to serbia, they came out in i could have scored? in fairness| to serbia, they came out in the second half dominating and they said ok, inaudible put them under pressure and stop showing them so much respect and england's inaudible physicality as well as in the first half but england stood up to it, they defended well, the goalkeeper made good saves which they've done consistently for them in previous tournaments and inaudible harry kane would have scored, his header was well saved but at the end of the day, it's about the end of the day, it's about the three points and they got through what was arguably going to be the toughest game in the group and now they can look forward to perhaps guaranteeing that qualification in the next match. ~ , . . match. when is the next match? are they playing _ match. when is the next match? are they playing and _ match. when is the next match? are they playing and what - match. when is the next match? are they playing and what is - are they playing and what is your thoughts on well england will do? ., ., , will do? -- who are. it will be auainst will do? -- who are. it will be against denmark— will do? -- who are. it will be against denmark on _ will do? -- who are. it will be against denmark on june - will do? -- who are. it will be against denmark on june 20. | against denmark onjune 20. inaudible finished top of the group and go through to the knockout stages. that would be a tricky game i think. people are writing off denmark but they've got a lot of good players who play in the premier league so they will be well—known to england players and if they can get another point or get the win, tear them up point or get the win, tear them up nicely and given what happened yesterday, they will want to put on a bit of a performance to show they are, to demonstrate why they are favourites.— to demonstrate why they are favourites. who is the biggest threat, favourites. who is the biggest threat. do _ favourites. who is the biggest threat, do you _ favourites. who is the biggest threat, do you think, - favourites. who is the biggest threat, do you think, to - threat, do you think, to winning? which team? we threat, do you think, to winning? which team? threat, do you think, to winninu? which team? ~ ., winning? which team? we saw how well germany _ winning? which team? we saw how well germany played _ winning? which team? we saw how well germany played in _ winning? which team? we saw how well germany played in the - well germany played in the opening game against scotland inaudible home as well and spain go really well on saturday as well inaudible tournaments. we have france later tonight and they are among the favourites and portugal as well to come. it's still early days of course, some teams haven't played. but england are definitely up there. , ., . there. they are indeed. uche, thank you _ there. they are indeed. uche, thank you for— there. they are indeed. uche, thank you for getting - there. they are indeed. uche, thank you for getting up - there. they are indeed. uche, thank you for getting up so i thank you for getting up so early, given you were up late watching the football. and there is so much more reaction to that on our website. do take a look. most of the front pages today are dominated by that i—0 today are dominated by that 1—0 victory. let's turn to france. today marks the official opening of the campaign for the french general elections. president emmanuel macron called the snap vote a week ago after the far—right national rally won a convincing victory in the european elections. the picture appears to be one of three key blocs — on the right, the national rally led by marine le pen, a newly formed left—wing coalition and in the centre, president macron and his allies. the elections are conducted over two rounds — this one will be held onjune 30 and thenjuly 7. let's get more on what's at stake here. we can bring in cecile alduy, professor of french studies at stanford university, associate scholar at the institute of political science in paris and expert of french politics and the far—right. welcome to the programme. give us your take on what may happen in these elections it is complicated and it's interesting to see how the parties are positioning themselves. some are teaming up on the left and, of course, you have marine le pen's very strong far right. your take on what is happening? it’s strong far right. your take on what is happening?— what is happening? it's a clarification _ what is happening? it's a clarification of _ what is happening? it's a clarification of a - what is happening? it's a clarification of a new i clarification of a new political landscape where, as you said, we now have three main political forces. you said, we now have three main politicalforces. we used to have the left versus the right divide that was dominating and now we have an extremely high far right led by marine le pen and gathering some of the republican right as well. the centre that's been crumbling in the european election which is macron's party and on the left, and extremely quick coalition called the popular front that goes from former president francois ballon d'or all the way to anticapitalist parties. so this is the inaudible and a three party system will be really chaotic in terms of gathering and maturity in the parliament to then pass laws so a lot of instability ahead. yes, and is it possible to predict what the outcome of this all may be in terms of who gets what steaks within the parliament?— gets what steaks within the parliament? it's very difficult to predict _ parliament? it's very difficult to predict because _ parliament? it's very difficult to predict because as - parliament? it's very difficult to predict because as you i parliament? it's very difficult | to predict because as you said it's a two round system and everything will be decided in the second round and will be decided by the voters who will make it to the second round and will have to decide what is the least difficult choice for me to make? there are several possibilities. 0ne to make? there are several possibilities. one is the far—right marine le pen and jordan bardella, the head of the future government, possibly, will have enough seats to form a government. this will be an unseen outcome in france that a far—right government is in power. the last time was during world war ii. another possibility, and it will depend on localised elections because we have 577 congresspeople being elect it, is that the left, this coalition, manages to outperform because of a fear that the far—right is going to take power. a less possible outcome would be the centre and macron's party is going to win a majority but right now, there's a lot of dissatisfaction for macron and it's been showing already in the european elections. 50 it's been showing already in the european elections. so this is a surprise — the european elections. so this is a surprise gamble _ the european elections. so this is a surprise gamble that i the european elections. so this is a surprise gamble that you . is a surprise gamble that you believe will not pay for him? it may not be in the short term. in the sense that probably they are going to lose a lot of congressmen. however, in the longer run, i think the bet by macron will be whoever wins the election will be so unstable and difficult to govern that they will really not be performing well in government and the voters will be dissatisfied against them and come the next presidential election, his party can come back and say see, it wasn't that bad with us? interesting, it's a very _ that bad with us? interesting, it's a very interesting - it's a very interesting political landscape that is unfolding. cecile, thank you so much forjoining us with your expertise. appreciated. thank ou. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. a senior white house adviser will travel to israel today to try to defuse rising tensions over the number of cross—border attacks by the lebanese militant group, hezbollah. amos hochstein's visit comes as the israeli military warned that increasing hostility is bringing the region to the brink of a serious escalation. since the hamas attacks of october the seventh, there have been near—daily exchanges of fire between israeli forces and hezbollah. last week, the iran—backed group launched a barrage of rockets and drones into northern israel after one of its senior commanders was killed. meanwhile, israel's prime minister benjamin netanyahu says he considers it "unacceptable" that the idf is introducing daytime pauses in its military activity in part of southern gaza. israel announced what it called a daily "tactical pause" in military activity in one area, to let more aid in. israeli military operations are being halted between 8am and 7pm every day along the road that leads from the kerem shalom crossing to the main salah al—din highway, which extends north through the territory. 0ur middle east correspondent lucy williamson reports. allahu akbar. in gaza, they stood to pray in places with little else left standing. allahu akbar. the festival after eid al—adha marking another milestone in this war, those for whom conflict and celebration are new, those who have lived through them many times before. translation: for all muslims, eid means sacrificing animals i to shed blood. but this eid, there are no sacrificed animals. now, we sacrifice ourselves, we sacrifice our own bodies. agencies warn that a lack of aid is causing acute malnutrition in gaza. today, confusion over a limited daily truce announced by the army along a key aid route. it sparked fury from israel's far—right ministers and a rapid army response to say the fighting in gaza wouldn't stop. but the costs of this war are also pressing on israel's prime minister. 11 soldiers killed in gaza yesterday. his instruction to dismantle the hamas army has left his soldiers still facing a guerrilla war. translation: when the price is so heavy, we will remember what we are fighting for. we're fighting to ensure our existence and our future. we are fighting to return all our hostages. mr netanyahu's room for manoeuvre on gaza is narrowing. protesters last night called again for an end to the war. but ending it now probably means an end to his government, and the rhetoric over gaza is straining to mask the reality of his choices. caught between his promise of total victory and the prospect of a forever war. lucy williamson, bbc news, jerusalem. let's get the latest on the war in ukraine. volodymyr zelensky has said ukraine would hold peace talks with russia tomorrow if moscow's troops left his country but he said vladimir putin would not end the war, and had to be stopped in any