Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has followed in the footsteps of some of the world's biggest leaders by visiting the Great Wall of China.
"We are literally standing on history," Mr Albanese said during yesterday's press conference at the Great Wall.
"History in recognition of the longevity of Chinese culture and Chinese achievement as well."
Mr Albanese's trip to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, coming after a day of meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang in Beijing, was part of a time-honoured tradition.
Here's a look back at some of the world leaders who have walked on the Great Wall.
Gough Whitlam in 1971
Gough Whitlam was Australia's opposition leader when he became one of the first Western politicians to reach out to China during the Cold War.
The visit demonstrated Mr Whitlam’s ambition to re-imagine Australian foreign policy and reposition Australia in the world.
Richard Nixon in 1972
During the final days of February 1972, at the height of the Cold War, then-US president Richard Nixon flew into communist China's centre of power.
His visit led to the establishment of diplomatic relations between Washington and Beijing and the parallel severing of formal ties with Taiwan, which the US had recognised as the government of China after the communists took power in Beijing in 1949.
Queen Elizabeth II in 1986
The queen became the first British sovereign to visit China in 1986, officially visiting the country with the Duke of Edinburgh over a six-day period beginning on October 13.
Bill Clinton in 1998
George Bush in 2002
Vladimir Putin in 2002
Barack Obama in 2009
"It's magical. It reminds you of the sweep of history," then-US president Barack Obama said, after breaking away from his tour guides to walk alone along the snowy parapets.
Panda diplomacy
Kicking off his day in Chengdu, Mr Albanese visited one of the panda breeding and conservation centres in the region.
Australia and China have been engaging in panda diplomacy for quite some time.
Former Australian prime minister Bob Hawke visited Chengdu Zoo, which offered to loan Australia two pandas for the 1988 bicentenary celebrations.
ABC/wires
