Anthony Albanese reveals late-night Biden call and opens up on China relations on KIIS FM

Taking to the Kyle and Jackie ‘O’ breakfast show, the PM was peppered with questions, revealing how he is contacted in an emergency, and his feelings on the nation’s relationship with the US and China.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has revealed he was woken in the middle of the night by a direct call from U.S. President Joe Biden, one of only a handful of times a special security phone in his residence has rung.

Speaking on KIIS FM’s Kyle and Jackie O show, Albanese gave listeners a rare glimpse into the behind the scenes reality of being Prime Minister, including how global events sometimes interrupt his sleep.

“There is a phone that has only run a couple of times, one of the times it was from President Joe Biden,” he said.

“That was to say that he wasn’t coming to the Sydney Quad meeting that was going to be held and so he wanted to let us know as soon as that decision was made.”

When asked if all world leaders have a direct line for emergency calls, Albanese said he couldn’t speak for others, but confirmed such phones exist at his official residences.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has revealed he was woken in the middle of the night by a direct call from U.S. President Joe Biden. (Photo by Hilary Wardhaugh/Getty Images)

The interview quickly shifted from late night calls to high-stakes diplomacy, with Kyle questioning Albanese about his recent meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and the pressure he faces from Australia’s strategic ally, the United States.

“Your meeting with the Chinese President, how’d that go over there because you’re getting the pressure put on you from America saying, while you’re over there in China dealing with your most important export partner, what would happen if there was a war started between,” Kyle said.

Kyle Sandilands questioned the Prime Minister over his time in China. Picture: Mark Stewart

Albanese stressed the importance of engagement and keeping communication channels open.

“What we want to do is engage with people, talk with people and the President Xi meeting went really well,” he said.

“They're our most important trading partner, more than 25 per cent of our trade goes to one country, which is China and it’s so important for Australian jobs.

“That is what is in our interest, as well as of course we all have an interest in security in the region.”

Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson hit the PM with some unusual questions. Picture: Supplied/Instagram

Further grilled on the risk of conflict between the U.S. and China, the Prime Minister made it clear that diplomacy is essential.

“Well, what I want to see is security and relationships, when we avoided a war during the cold war between the US and the Soviet Union, there was dialogue there,” Albanese said.

“I know that President Trump and President Xi have had discussions, which is good.”

“The world has an interest in peace and security, which has a devastating impact on Russia’s war on Ukraine.”

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Originally published as Anthony Albanese reveals late-night Biden call and opens up on China relations on KIIS FM