Victoria premier Dan Andrews team hit back at claims the premier could be ... trends now
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The Victorian government denies the premier could be manipulated by the Chinese government during his first visit to the country since the COVID-19 outbreak.
Daniel Andrews arrived in Beijing on Tuesday to begin a five-day visit to meet with senior officials on issues of trade and international students.
A government-distributed itinerary said Mr Andrews met with the vice president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries on Tuesday.
The association was criticised in 2020 by former US secretary of state Mike Pompeo, who accused it of 'co-opting subnational governments' to 'directly and malignly influence state and local leaders'.
Chinese media outlets this week aired old footage of Mr Andrews saying there needed to be respectful dialogue between China and Australia.
The Victorian government denies Premier Daniel Andrews (pictured in Tiananmen Square in 2015) could be manipulated by the Chinese government during his five-day visit to the country
The clips from 2017 were used in a video news story promoting the premier's visit.
But Victorian Assistant Treasurer Danny Pearson denied Mr Andrews was at risk of Chinese influence or interference.
'I don't think anyone has manipulated the premier ever,' Mr Pearson told reporters on Wednesday.
'The premier is his
