Australia's Anthony Albanese to Attend G20 meeting in Indonesia after Meeting Indonesia's Joko Widodo

KOMPAS.com - Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he will attend the G20 meeting in Indonesia later this year despite the Russian embassy signaling that President Vladimir Putin plans to attend.

Albanese said he would attend the annual meeting of the leaders of the world’s 20 largest economies, which is scheduled to be held in Bali this year, during his first bilateral overseas visit as Prime Minister.

It comes amid many G20 member countries asking Indonesia not to invite Putin because of its invasion of Ukraine.

“I … [will attend] because the work of the G20 is critical at this time of global economic uncertainty,” Albanese said in a brief speech alongside Indonesian President Joko Widodo.
“It will be by working with Indonesia that we most effectively tackle the many challenges we face in navigating the post-Covid global economic recovery.

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“I will work closely with President Widodo to help deliver a successful summit. And we discussed that this morning.”

Former prime minister Scott Morrison had urged Indonesia to reject Putin’s presence, saying it would be “a step too far”.

Albanese was later asked his position on Putin attending the summit.

“In terms of why I’ll be attending, I’m focused on sitting with President Widodo, not President Putin,” he said.

“It’s in Australia’s interest to have good relations with friends. The Indonesian presidency of G20 is important.”

Albanese said the Russian leader had attended previous meetings in Australia.

“That doesn’t mean we agree with his stance,” Albanese said, before adding the invasion of Ukraine was “abhorrent” and “illegal”.

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Albanese said revitalizing trade relationships with the world’s fourth most populous country was a priority for his government.

“Australia’s relationship with Indonesia is one of our most important,” he said.

“We’re linked not just by geography, but we are linked by choice.”

He said his government would work with Australian superannuation funds to explore investment opportunities in the country.

Albanese promised an additional $470 million over four years for bilateral and regional Overseas Development Assistance programs in South-East Asia.

“We will appoint a dedicated high-level roving regional envoy,” he said.

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“We will also establish an office of South-East Asia in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to ensure whole-of-government coordination of Australian efforts in the region.”

Widodo said he was “delighted” Indonesia was the site of Albanese’s first bilateral visit after being sworn in as Prime Minister.

“It shows the closeness between the government and the people of the two countries,” he said in a statement.

He said he expressed the importance of expanding imports to Australia, increasing working holiday visas for Indonesians, and increasing cooperation in health and education.

Earlier, Albanese was welcomed at Bogor Palace, just outside of Jakarta, by Widodo and a ceremonial guard.

He planted a tree with the Indonesian leader before the pair went for a brief bicycle ride through the palace grounds.