SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese mentioned on Sunday his journey to Indonesia simply over two weeks after he was elected confirmed the significance his new authorities locations on ties between the 2 international locations as it really works to focus extra on Southeast Asia.

Albanese was because of depart on Sunday for Indonesia, and is anticipated to go to the capital Jakarta, the place he’ll maintain talks with President Joko Widodo, in addition to Makassar, in South Sulawesi. The Australian delegation can even embody International Minister Penny Wong and Commerce Minister Don Farrell.

“This early go to with a really high-level delegation from Australia signifies to our Indonesian pals the significance we place on that relationship,” Albanese instructed reporters in Perth.

The journey comes as Australia’s new Labor authorities, which ended virtually a decade of conservative rule in a Could 21 election, places larger concentrate on relations with Southeast Asia and local weather change, a problem essential to its Pacific neighbours, because it navigates ties with a extra assertive China.

The Indonesia go to will mark Albanese’s second abroad journey since changing into prime minister after he attended a gathering of leaders of the Quad group of nations in Tokyo in late Could.

“My authorities is decided to have higher relations throughout the Indo-Pacific area, that’s the reason you’ve got seen us, very early on, have two visits from International Minister Wong into the Pacific,” Albanese instructed reporters.

Wong and her Chinese language counterpart, International Minister Wang Yi, not too long ago made competing excursions of Pacific island nations amid escalating tensions between Australia and China over affect within the area, and as China sought a regional safety deal.

Wong, born in Malaysia, is Australia’s first overseas-born overseas minister and he or she has served in Labor administrations that held nearer ties with Southeast Asian neighbours corresponding to Indonesia.