“This has been a very successful visit,” Albanese told reporters in Chengdu.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s fiancée, Jodie Haydon, accompanied him to the research site, which holds about 260 of the estimated 700 pandas in captivity worldwide. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch

“It was an opportunity to have constructive discussions across the range of issues, security, our relationship, including people-to-people and importantly, our trade,” Albanese said.

“What we’ve had is constructive engagement … The fact that you have the four major Australian resource and iron ore exporters — BHP, Rio [Tinto], Fortescue and Hancock — all sitting down with their Chinese purchasers of their products, that benefits Australia enormously,” he added.

At a luncheon earlier in the day, Albanese said there is scope for the “inspiring” technology to expand further, but this relies on continued free and fair trade with China.

Albanese brushes off ‘indulgent’ trip criticism

“And frankly, I have to say that some of this is starting to look a little bit indulgent.”

Opposition leader Sussan Ley also took aim at Albanese for not raising security concerns more forcefully.