Big first day on job for our rookie PM
ANTHONY Albanese has stepped out onto the world stage for the first time, meeting with US President Joe Biden, India’s Narendra Modi and Japan’s Fumio Kishida in Tokyo.
Only a day after taking office the new PM was thrust into the international big league at only the second inperson meeting of the fourpower Quad dialogue designed to stand up to China.
In his remarks in front of the other leaders and the assembled media, Mr Albanese said Australia looked forward to tackling “climate change and the security of our region”.
“Our co-operation is built on the values that we share, commitment to representative democracy, the rule of law and the right to live in peace,” he said.
In remarks that repeatedly stressed the importance of climate change, which he said was “the main economic and security challenge for the island countries of the Pacific”, the PM said the government was committed to leading by example.
He also thanked his fellow leaders for their “sincere congratulations” on his election win and said it was an “honour” for his first act as Prime Minister to be attending the Quad.
“The new Australian government’s priorities align with the Quad agenda – taking action on climate change and building a stronger and more resilient Indo-Pacific region through better economic security, better cybersecurity, better energy security, and better environmental and health security,” Mr Albanese said.
“That’s why my government will take ambitious action on climate change and increase our support to partners as they work to address it.”
Mr Albanese outlined Australia’s new climate target – to reduce emissions by 43 per cent by 2030 – to reach net zero by 2050.
He also stressed a commitment to continue to work closely on countering China’s rise and interference.
The focus of the PM’s address was in marked contrast to the remarks by Mr Biden and Mr Kishida.
Opening the meeting, Mr Kishida said Russia’s attack on Ukraine had shocked the world and it was vital that nothing like that should occur in the region – a veiled reference to China’s ambitions towards Taiwan.
Describing it as “a grave incident which has fundamentally shaken the rule of law”, Mr Kishida said “we should never ever allow a similar incident to happen in the Indo-Pacific”.
Mr Biden went even further in his remarks, telling the group that Russia’s invasion was a matter for the whole world.
“This is more than just a European issue, it’s a global issue,” he said.
“The fact is that when you turn on the television and see what Russia’s doing now, it appears to me that (Russian president Vladimir) Putin is trying to extinguish a culture.”
Neither Mr Modi nor Mr Albanese mentioned the situation in the Ukraine.
India’s reluctance to criticise Russia has frustrated the Biden administration.
Mr Albanese was later expected to meet one-on-one with Mr Kishida.