Albanese hosts Fijian PM at Wallabies test in Newcastle
Australia edged out Fiji 21-18 in front of a lively crowd at McDonald Jones Stadium. Before kick-off, the two leaders shook hands with players, stood for national anthems, and shared a laugh as winter sunshine beamed down on the east coast.
It marked a timely display of soft diplomacy amid growing calls to strengthen Pacific ties against the backdrop of regional uncertainty and Vanuatu's rejection of a key strategic pact last week.
The match appearance had followed Mr Rabuka's National Press Club address in Canberra. In the speech, he ruled out hosting any Chinese military base and called for Australia to sign a formal treaty with Fiji to strengthen co-operation between the two countries. Harry Wilson of the Wallabies is presented the Vuvale Bowl by Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister of Australia and Sitiveni Rabuka, Prime Minister of Fiji. (Photo by) Credit: Matt King / Getty Images
Rugby has long served as a diplomatic bridge in the region, with the federal government previously investing to support the rugby league's development across the Pacific.
Amid escalating geopolitical sports rivalry, however, Samoan and Tongan rugby union officials turned to China this week for investment to counter Australia's $600 million rugby league expansion in the region.
Since his re-election on May 3, Mr Albanese has maintained a strong global focus, holding bilateral meetings in Indonesia and Singapore, and engaging with world leaders on the sidelines of the Pope's inauguration in Rome and the G7 summit in Canada.
Mr Albanese is set to travel to China next weekend for a meeting with President Xi Jinping, in what will be the latest test of his government's diplomatic balancing act in the region.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Labor not given Australia ‘best chance' of tariff carve out, opposition says, as Trump sends letters
Australian goods may not be getting slugged with higher US tariffs, but that does not mean the country is getting the best deal possible, the opposition says. Donald Trump has begun sending out letters to countries that failed to lock in new trading terms with the US. The letters informed them their exports to the US would be hit with new tariff rates from August 1. The countries included close allies Japan and South Korea, which both face 25 per cent imposts. For others, the new rate is as high as 40 per cent. Australia was not named among those facing 'reciprocal tariffs' announced in April but was instead subjected to the universal 10 per cent taxes on all foreign imports – a position Anthony Albanese has said he did not expect to change. Opposition finance spokesman James Paterson said on Tuesday any tariffs on Australia were unacceptable but the Prime Minister had not given Australia the 'best chance' of getting a carve out. 'The only fair tariff on Australia would be 0 per cent, and I hope that's what we get,' Senator Paterson told Nine's Today. 'But we haven't given ourselves the best chance of securing that from the Trump administration because the Prime Minister has not even met President Trump now, seven months after he was elected. 'In stark contrast to other world leaders, like the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer who did secure an exemption from steel and aluminium tariffs for the UK because of the personal relationship that he formed with President Trump. 'I really hope the Prime Minister doesn't leave it any longer before he forms that relationship and argues for the best case possible for our country.' The UK and Vietnam are the only countries to secure deals with the Trump administration. Though, neither have escaped the US President's levies altogether, with Vietnam still subject to 20 per cent duties. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said his efforts to build a strong personal relationship with Mr Trump helped secure tariff leniency, particularly on automakers. British cars were facing a 25 per cent rate, but that was dropped to 10 per cent. Similarly, British steel and aluminium have remained at the initial 25 per cent rate, while Australian steel and aluminium have been swept up in the 50 per cent rate. But speaking to Sky News, Assistant Treasurer Dan Mulino insisted the Albanese government was 'clearly continuing to argue for the best possible deal'. 'My understanding is that we are still at the position of having a 10 per cent tariff imposed, but the good news is that that is the lowest rate that any country has been able to secure,' he said. 'So we'll continue to argue for the best possible deal, and we'll continue to argue for it to be lower than that.' Mr Mulino went on to cite Productivity Commission analysis that suggested Australia could have an advantage over other countries because 'if we're lower than other countries, that might present opportunities for us to increase our trade with the US'. 'In some situations, the tariffs the US imposing might also offer opportunities for us to secure goods from other countries that might be redirecting their trade to other parts of the world,' he said.
West Australian
2 hours ago
- West Australian
Anthony Albanese's China visit: Prime Minister set to travel to Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu from Saturday
Anthony Albanese has confirmed his visit to China from Saturday, when he is heading to Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu. The Prime Minister is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang for the annual bilateral leaders' dialogue during the trip that will span nearly a week. Trade is expected to be high on the agenda, with these meetings the first since China lifted its final barriers on Australian exports. The ban on Australian lobsters was lifted in December. 'China's an important trading partner for Australia – 25 per cent of our exports go to China. What that means is jobs, and one of the things that my government prioritises is jobs,' Mr Albanese said on Tuesday. 'What we have done is to get rid of the more than $20 billion of impediments on goods that were stopped from going to China. 'It's made an enormous difference … products like wine and barley have not just bounced back, they've bounced back higher than they were before.' This will be the fourth time Mr Albanese has met Mr Xi. The talks come as uncertainty continues around US President Donald Trump's tariffs. The US President has publicly issued letters he has sent to several countries, including Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, South Africa and Serbia, informing them he will lift the rate of tariffs imposed on them from 10 per cent to a 'reciprocal' level from August 1. Australia, which has a trade surplus with the US, does not expect to be hit with anything higher than the 10 per cent base rate. China's ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, this week called for Australia to expand its trade deal with his country to include greater cooperation on artificial intelligence. Mr Albanese brushed off questions about his approach to this, saying Australia would determine its own policy. Australia is working with the US and UK to cooperate on developing AI and advanced military capabilities as part of AUKUS Pillar II.
Sky News AU
14 hours ago
- Sky News AU
‘As useful as a sunroof in a submarine': Penny Wong's shocking foreign affairs performance
Former radio host Ray Hadley says Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong is "as useful as a sunroof in a submarine' when dealing with American politicians. 'He's about to have his fourth visit with the Chinese leader,' Mr Hadley told Sky News host Sharri Markson. 'It all started with Penny Wong … as useful as a sunroof in a submarine. 'Penny tried to deal with the Americans, and after her views on Gaza and the rest of it, and putting herself at odds with the Americans over a whole range of things, and now this oration over the course of the weekend.'
