Anthony Albanese is now over Asia, flying back to Australia after sharing the world stage with three of the most powerful men on the planet.
A few hours after being sworn in on Monday, Albanese was in a hurry to board a plane for Tokyo.
It was an end-to-end case at the Quad Summit for the 31st newly appointed Australian Prime Minister, with Albanese clashing and talking about regional security, China, climate change and the economy with U.S. leaders. Japan and India.
U.S. President Joe Biden greets Anthony Albanese with a hand on his shoulder and a warm smile. (SMH / Alex Ellinghausen)
The Albanian will no doubt be delighted with the timing of all this.
Being seen alongside U.S. President Joe Biden, with whom he shared several jokes, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida immediately underline their leadership credentials.
The images coming out of Tokyo look good to home Australians, curious to see how their new prime minister handled his first diplomatic mission abroad.
There’s Biden with one hand on his shoulder, smiling warmly and basically welcoming him to the fold.
And there’s Biden, teased coming out of a meeting with Albanese, bursting out laughing with the others in the room.
But most importantly, judging by Albanese’s comments on the tarmac this morning before boarding his plane, it looked like a productive and fruitful Quad for the new prime minister.
Albanese said he was “especially excited” by the reception he received at bilateral meetings with each leader.
Let’s take a look at the key issues discussed and the victories of Albania and Australia.
Anthony Albanese walks with U.S. President Joe Biden, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, the host of the 2022 Quad Summit. Russia’s unilateral illegal and immoral aggression “against Ukraine.
The Quad also spoke of the importance of “getting there” to other countries in the region, following China’s advances in a Pacific region weakened by Western diplomatic neglect in recent years.
China’s actions in the seas of East and South China were marked, including the militarization of disputed areas, the dangerous use of Coast Guard vessels and the maritime militia.
The development and launch of North Korea’s “destabilizing” ballistic missiles were condemned.
Smoke comes from the steel and coal loading facility in Port Kembla. (Getty / Brook Mitchell)
Albanese has repeatedly mentioned climate action while on the tarmac this morning.
He described talks with Biden about “improving our commitment and our mutual position on climate change and the need for global action.”
Albanese wanted to emphasize that he had brought a new message to the world.
“There is a lot of coherence in Australia’s national security positions, but there are some differences with the old Australian government, especially when it comes to climate change,” he said.
“The new government I lead, its position was welcomed by the leaders of the United States, Japan and India.”
Albanese revealed that Modi had invited him to India and that the couple discussed how Australia could deepen educational ties with the world’s second most populous nation.
“We talked about the potential for educational exchange,” Albanese said, describing a strategy of “co-location” Australian universities in India.
This, Albanese said, would allow Indian students to study at Australian universities while staying in India, with options to complete half of their career in Australia.
A Chinese military H-6K bomber conducts training exercises on the South China Sea. (AP) Other issues included increasing the production of coronavirus vaccinations and improving regional access to the blows, working more closely on space initiatives, such as protecting the region, especially supply lines, from cyberattacks, illegal fishing in the Pacific and how to best respond to natural and natural cases. humanitarian disasters.
Australia will host the Quad meeting next year.