China's government responded to the U.S.-Australia rare earths deal signed by President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Washington this week.

From the White House on Monday, US President Donald Trump waxed lyrical about his country's friendship with Australia. "We've been long-term, longtime allies and I would say there's never been anybody better," Trump told Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, at the pair's first official meeting.

While Trump and Albanese greeted each other warmly, the U.S. president expressed ire about past criticism of him by Australia's ambassador Kevin Rudd, a former prime minister.

The Australian prime minister said the critical minerals deal takes the U.S.-Australia relationship "to the next level."

Reserves of critical minerals are front and center as President Donald Trump holds his first formal meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday.

The deal is a key objective for the US as the Trump administration seeks to move away from dependence on China.

President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced an $8.5 billion rare earths agreement to reduce dependence on China's mineral supply dominance.

Some Trump officials had questioned whether the U.S. could afford the deal when Washington is trying to bulk up its own fleet.

The $8.5-billion deal comes as the White House seeks to reduce reliance on Chinese supply chains and as Australia looks to shore up ties with the U.S.

President Donald Trump met with the prime minister of Australia. They signed an agreement on Australia's rare-earth minerals and discussed trade and the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal.