Anthony Albanese hails the US's expanded engagement in the Indo-Pacific during their private meeting.

Youssef Shnino
27 Sep, 2022

Ahead of Shinzo Abe's official funeral, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Kamala Harris met on Tuesday in Tokyo.

In their first face-to-face meeting, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese showered accolades on Vice President Kamala Harris.

Mr Albanese and Ms Harris met in Tokyo on Tuesday, ahead of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's official funeral, which was slain in early July.

This is the first face-to-face encounter between the two leaders since Mr Albanese was elected Prime Minister in May.

Mr Albanese lauded Ms Harris' work in the area during a news conference in Tokyo, citing her speech to the Pacific Islands Forum.

"Your talk to the Pacific Island conference was extremely well received there in Suva," he stated on Tuesday. 

Anthony Albanese hails the US's expanded engagement in the Indo-Pacific during their private meeting.
In their first face-to-face meeting, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese showered accolades on Vice President Kamala Harris. Image Credit : skynews

"It was a very significant address, and we appreciate the US creating additional offices in the area to strengthen that footprint. It is vital that we continue to engage, collaborate, and work together on these problems, and I very much look forward to our conversation today."

At the Pacific Islands Forum in June, Ms Harris revealed new embassies in Kiribati and Tonga, a renegotiated South Pacific Tuna Treaty worth US$600 million (AUD$884 million), and a new US Pacific policy.

Fiji gave the United States a rare opportunity to speak at the summit, indicating that ties between the two countries are warming.

Mr Albanese also lauded the US-Australia partnership, citing the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act in the US and collaborative collaboration through the Quad Leaders Meeting.

"Of course, Australia's relationship with the United States has been tremendously crucial," Mr Albanese said.

"I'm happy that my party can trace the alliance back to 1941, when Australia turned to the United States, and that connection has been so essential since then."

"In the future, I'd want to congratulate you on the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, which is extremely vital that the world act."

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