Anthony Albanese says he will talk to Timor-Leste leaders on the flight to Indonesia for his first official visit to that country after the Timorese became the latest regional neighbors to sign agreements with China.
Before flying to Jakarta on Sunday, Albanese told reporters in Perth he had not yet had the opportunity for a “one on one discussion” with the Timorese government but said the president, Jose Ramos Horta, was a friend and former constituent. Hence, he was “confident that we can have good relations going forward”.
Asked what message he would be taking to the Indonesian president, Joko Widodo, about China’s actions in the region, Albanese said initial discussions had been “cordial and positive,” and the Indonesian government had gone out of its way to host a significant delegation from the new Australian government over the coming days.
Albanese will hold his first face-to-face meeting with Widodo on Monday in Jakarta. The prime minister will also visit Makassar on the southern tip of Sulawesi, a region Widodo wants to develop where Australia has opened its newest Indonesian diplomatic presence.
Albanese said his government wanted to deepen diplomatic ties across the Indo-Pacific and had moved quickly after being sworn in to deploy to Pacific countries.
He will be accompanied on the Indonesian visit by the foreign minister, Penny Wong, the trade minister, Don Farrell, the industry minister, Ed Husic, and Australian business leaders, including senior executives from Fortescue, Bluescope, Sun Cable, Telstra, Thales Australia, and Wesfarmers.
Albanese said, given the growing strategic competition in the region, “I certainly seek peaceful relations with all of our neighbors, recognizing the challenges which are there”.
The prime minister said he would also have talks with the secretary general of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), Lim Jock Hoi, “and those discussions reflect the priority that we have on south-east Asia”.
“We announced during the election campaign additional aid for south-east Asia, and a particular envoy and other measures to assist our relations,” Albanese said.
“My government is determined to have better relations across the Indo-Pacific region – that’s why you’ve seen us, very early on, have two visits from foreign minister Wong to the Pacific,” he said.
“That’s why I not only attended the Quad leaders meeting on the day after we were sworn in … [it’s why there] is this early visit with a high-level delegation from Australia that indicates to our Indonesian friends the importance that we place on that relationship.”
Albanese said it was important that Widodo would be hosting the next meeting of the G20.
It has been traditional for Australian prime ministers to make Jakarta their first foreign visit since the Keating era. Recently, Albanese observed Indonesia would be the next regional superpower.
The decision by the Morrison government to enter into the Aukus submarine partnership with the US and the UK caused diplomatic ripples in the region. Indonesia expressed concerns about the pact’s impact on regional security and nuclear non-proliferation commitments.
Labor supports the Aukus deal, but Albanese’s first visit will allow the two leaders a diplomatic reset. The Labor leader met Widodo in opposition during his last visit to Canberra in 2020.
