China-Australia talks uncertain at ASEAN and East Asia Summit
Anthony Albanese has caught up with the US president ahead of Mr Biden’s long-anticipated meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
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Anthony Albanese has met with Joe Biden on the sidelines of a security summit in Cambodia ahead of the US President’s critical face-to-face meeting with China’s leader Xi Jinping.
The Prime Minister greeted Mr Biden in Phnom Penh where leaders from across the region have gathered for the East Asia Summit on Sunday before the two entered a private room for a bilateral meeting.
It is the second round of formal talks between the two leaders since Mr Albanese became Prime Minister in May, and comes just one day before Mr Biden is due to meet Mr Xi ahead of the G20 summit in Bali.
Mr Biden arrived in Cambodia for the ASEAN and East Asia Summits on Saturday after attending the COP27 climate summit in Egypt.
His decision to meet with Mr Albanese during such a packed schedule has reinforced the significance of Australia’s contribution on the issue of peace and security in the Indo-Pacific and expertise on China.
Mr Biden is due to meet face-to-face with Mr Xi on Monday ahead of the G20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia.
White House administration officials had previously said Mr Biden would consult with allies in Asia and Europe before the meeting with Mr Xi.
Mr Biden is expected to raise a number of concerns with the Chinese leader, including longstanding concerns about human rights violations, as well as recent threats to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
Mr Albanese could be headed for his own meeting with Mr Xi. He spoke briefly with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and both Australian and Chinese officials are open to making the meeting happen.
“There are no preconditions for a meeting,” he said. “I look forward to having a constructive dialogue if a meeting takes place.
“I‘ve always said that (we) will co-operate with China where we can.”
Mr Albanese welcomed the prospect of a meeting between Mr Xi and US President Joe Biden.
“Out of dialogue comes understanding and we need more, not less in today’s world,” he said.
Mr Albanese met with Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit, where Australia was praised for its ongoing support to Ukrainian efforts to repel Russia’s invasion.
Mr Kuleba said the 90 Bushmaster armoured vehicles Australia has donated to Ukraine were playing a significant role in the war.
“Bushmasters became the most popular Australian brand in Ukraine,” Mr Kuleba said. “They became a symbol of (Australia’s) political, economic and military support.”
Mr Kuleba said he had witnessed Ukrainian solders in Bushmasters liberating territories and saving civilians in the county’s south and east.
“Ukraine will always remember this support that the people in Australia extended to us,” he said. “We will definitely prevail, when victory comes it will be a joint success.”
In a speech at the ASEAN summit, Mr Albanese said the region faced an “urgent task” to uphold the ideals of peace, freedom, social justice and economic wellbeing as it confronted a “complex and changing world”.
“My government is committed to deepening Australia’s engagement with Southeast Asia,” he said.
Mr Albanese announced the appointment of business leader Nicholas Moore as a special envoy to Southeast Asia to drive a 2040 economic strategy for the region.
He also had one-on-one meetings with the leaders of Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos.
Mr Biden arrived in Phnom Penh late yesterday for the summit and Mr Albanese said he expected to “chat” with his US counterpart in the coming days.
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