Anthony Albanese hosts Fijian prime minister 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.
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.
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