Green deal with Singapore on busy international agenda for Albanese

Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will visit Australia next month for talks with Anthony Albanese, with the pair set to sign a new “green economy agreement” amid a flurry of diplomatic engagements for the Australian prime minister.

Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Picture: Singapore's Ministry of Communications and Information/AFP

Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will visit Australia next month for talks with Anthony Albanese, with a new “green economy agreement” to be signed during his trip to streamline climate-friendly financing and technology development.

Rising tensions between the US and China over Taiwan are expected to be high on the agenda during the leaders’ first face-to-face meeting since Mr Albanese’s election win.

The October 16-18 visit comes amid a flurry of diplomatic engagements for Mr Albanese, who hosted Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Sunday for the PM’s XIII Rugby League clashes between the nations’ men's and women’s teams.

Mr Marape will join Mr Albanese, Malcolm Turnbull, Tony Abbott and John Howard on the Prime Minister’s RAAF jet on Monday for a flight to Tokyo to attend the funeral of former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe.

While in Japan, Mr Albanese will have bilateral meetings with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and US Vice-President Kamala Harris.

Mr Albanese is due to jet off again in November for three back-to-back international engagements – the East Asia Summit in Cambodia, the G20 leaders’ meeting in Bali, and APEC in Thailand.

Mr Lee’s visit to Australia for the seventh annual dialogue between the countries’ leaders will pave the way for future renewable energy and hydrogen deals between Australian and Singaporean companies.

The outspoken leader is a key ASEAN player and has consistently argued for the West and China to find common ground rather than escalating tensions.

The Lowy Institute’s senior fellow for East Asia, Richard McGregor, said Mr Lee was “a critic of Scott Morrison‘s noisy approach” to dealing with China, and was likely to take a more favourable view of Mr Albanese’s quieter diplomacy.

“Morrison was an early fan of his speeches but Lee didn‘t return the favour, telling him that he should find a way to work with China,” Mr McGregor said.

“With the flux in policy in Canberra, I think Lee will find a ready audience with the new government.”

During his trip, Mr Lee will meet Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Trade Minister Don Farrell and NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet, and together with his wife Ho Ching will dine at The Lodge with Mr Albanese and his partner Jodie Heydon.

He also will attend a business lunch hosted by the Asia Society Australia, and lay a wreath at the Australian War Memorial.

Mr Lee told Mr Morrison during a meeting last year Australia should focus on areas of mutual interest with China rather than ideological differences.

“You don’t have to become like them, neither can you hope to make them become like you,” he said after their meeting.

“You have to be able to work on that basis, that this is a big world in which there are different countries, and work with others who are not completely like minded but with whom you have many issues, where your interests do align.”