section_path: Prime Minister of Australia (2022–present)/International affairs
section_name: International affairs
paragraph_text: International affairs
  
  Albanese took his first international trip on 23 May 2022 immediately after being sworn in as prime minister when he flew to Tokyo to attend a Quadrilateral Security Dialogue meeting with fellow world leaders: US president Joe Biden, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida. At the meeting, Albanese committed his new government to the goals of the Quad and confirmed that his government would seek to take stronger action in reducing carbon emissions. On 5 June, Albanese and Penny Wong visited Indonesian president Joko Widodo in Jakarta to develop Australia–Indonesia relations. Albanese said he would not "publicly intervene" to prevent WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange from being extradited to the United States. Instead, he and his government engaged in what was dubbed "quiet diplomacy" with the United States, including raising the issue directly with president Biden. Assange was released from custody after striking a plea deal in June 2024. Barrister Greg Barns, who acted as a legal advisor to Assange, credited Albanese's government as "instrumental" to Assange's release.
  
  Later in June, Albanese attended the 2022 NATO Madrid summit to discuss security threats facing the Pacific region. On 30 June, Albanese met with French president Emmanuel Macron in Paris to "reset" Australia–France relations, which had been damaged following the cancellation of a submarine deal by the preceding government. The next day, Albanese travelled to Ukraine to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, making him the first Australian prime minister to make a diplomatic visit to Ukraine. Albanese pledged a further $100 million in aid to assist with the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War.
  
  On 26 September 2022, Albanese travelled to Japan to attend the state funeral of former prime minister Shinzo Abe.
  
  The relationship between Australia and China started to improve since Albanese became prime minister. In November 2022, Albanese held a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, bringing an end to the longest diplomatic freeze in 50 years between Australia and China. In early 2023, China ended its unofficial ban on imports of Australian coal, with all restrictions reportedly being lifted by 14 March. China agreed to lift its ban on barley imports from Australia in April, and imports of Australian timber in May, further improving the relations.
  
  In February 2023, Albanese hosted his New Zealand counterpart Chris Hipkins, who undertook his first official visit. While the two leaders reaffirmed Australian-New Zealand bilateral relations, they also discussed the controversial Section 501 deportation policy. Albanese confirmed that his government would amend the deportation policy to take into account individuals' connections to Australia and the length of time they had lived in the country.
  
  In March 2023, Albanese visited India to attend the Australia-India Annual Leaders' Summit in New Delhi. During the visit, he also led a trade delegation, which included Trade Minister Don Farrell and Resources Minister Madeleine King, after the implementation of the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) between Australia and India on 29 December 2022. He also attended the 75 Years of Friendship through Cricket Event hosted by PM Modi at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad to celebrate 75 years of strong diplomatic and cricketing ties between the two nations. The PMs attended a match of the Border–Gavaskar Trophy where Albanese handed over Australian Cricket Captain Steve Smith his test cap.
  
  On 13 March 2023, Albanese travelled to San Diego to officially commence the AUKUS security pact with President Biden and United Kingdom prime minister Rishi Sunak. Through the deal, which was signed by Albanese's predecessor, Australia will procure $368 billion worth of defence materiel, including nuclear-powered submarines in an effort to counter China's dominance in the Indo-Pacific region. The deal has been negatively received by China and former prime minister Paul Keating, who called it the "worst deal in all history".
  
  Australia–Philippines relations upgraded to a strategic partnership when Albanese visited Manila on 8 September 2023, the first bilateral visit to the Philippines by an Australian prime minister in two decades. He and President Bongbong Marcos agreed for their defence ministers to meet annually due to "rising security challenges" in the Indo-Pacific.
  
  Between 4 and 7 November 2023, Albanese visited Shanghai and Beijing, becoming the first Australian prime minister to visit China in seven years. The trip, described as an effort to get relations between Australia and China on track, coincided with the 50th anniversary of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam 's visit to China, the first by an Australian prime minister. During the trip, Albanese gave a speech at the China International Import Expo, and met with Premier Li Qiang and President Xi Jinping. The following week, he signed the Falepili Union treaty with the Pacific island country of Tuvalu. Described as "groundbreaking" by legal scholar Jane McAdam, the treaty entrenches bilateral relations between the two countries, with Australia agreeing to provide funds to help the country deal with the effects of climate change and also resettle 280 Tuvaluans a year, as the country is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
  
  In April 2024, Albanese told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Australians were outraged by the death of an Australian citizen in Israel's attack on aid workers in Gaza. Albanese condemned the Iranian strikes in Israel and reiterated the necessity for sanctions against Iran. Following the Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip in March 2025, Albanese called on all parties to respect the ceasefire and the hostage agreement.
  
  In August 2024, Albanese and Indonesian President-elect and Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto announced a new defence cooperation agreement to strengthen Australia–Indonesia security ties.