‘Handsome boy’ Albanese may have managed to turn China’s iron fist into a velvet glove

Anthony Albanese speaks to the media during his China trip after meeting premier Li Qiang at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

Just before the Reserve Bank of Australia hiked interest rates, and Without A Fight stormed home in the Melbourne Cup, China’s premier, Li Qiang, adopted a flirtatious tone in Beijing with his guest Anthony Albanese.

Tongue firmly in cheek, Li said to the Australian prime minister: “On our way into the hall, I shared with you that I see on social media of China … there are many sharing of short videos about your trip to China … including a video of you running along the river with a yellow jersey.”