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Biden congratulates Australian PM-elect Albanese: White House

The two leaders will meet Tuesday at the Quad group summit in Tokyo and the White House has praised Albanese for deciding to make the trip.

AFP
Washington, United States
Sun, May 22, 2022

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 Biden congratulates Australian PM-elect Albanese: White House US President Joe Biden (center) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (left) listen during a Quad Leaders Summit with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide in the East Room of the White House on September 24, 2021 in Washington, DC. The four leaders are expected to discuss a range of topics including climate change, Covid-19 vaccines and a free and open Indo-Pacific ocean region. (AFP/Sarahbeth Maney)

US President Joe Biden on Sunday called Australia's incoming prime minister Anthony Albanese to congratulate him on his election victory and underline the strength of their countries' alliance, the White House said.

The two leaders will meet Tuesday at the Quad group summit in Tokyo and the White House has praised Albanese for deciding to make the trip.

"President Biden reaffirmed the United States' steadfast commitment to the US-Australia alliance and his intent to work closely with the new government to make it stronger still," it said in a statement.

"President Biden expressed deep appreciation for the prime minister-designate's own early commitment to the alliance, reflected in his decision to travel almost immediately to Tokyo to attend the Quad Summit."

This is "a vital opportunity to exchange views and continue to drive practical cooperation in the Indo-Pacific", the statement added, using the administration's term for the Asia-Pacific region.

The Quad, comprising Australia, Japan, India and the United States, is a loose grouping established during Washington's efforts to reinforce its regional leadership and counteract an increasingly muscular Chinese military and trade presence.

Albanese said he will meet one-on-one with the US, Japanese and Indian leaders in Tokyo on Tuesday, 24 hours after he is scheduled to be sworn in.

"It enables us to send a message to the world that there is a change of government," he told reporters after claiming victory for his centre-left Labor Party in Saturday's national elections.

"There will be some changes in policy, particularly with regard to climate change, and our engagement with the world on these issues," said the 59-year-old leader, who has promised to accelerate Australian action to cut carbon emissions.

Albanese said he and key members of his team would be sworn in on Monday.

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