Trump Again Praises Albanese Ahead of APEC Summit

Seven leaders gathered at a special dinner in South Korea on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, with U.S. President Donald Trump seated once again beside Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

The reunion came just 10 days after Trump and Albanese met at the White House to discuss trade relations between their two respective nations.

Albanese travelled to South Korea after attending the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the East Asia summits in Kuala Lumpur, cutting his visit to Malaysia slightly short to join the APEC leaders’ dinner hosted by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.

Seated next to Albanese, Trump remarked on the pair’s last meeting.

“We had a great meeting a week ago, you came all the way, and now you came here,” he told Albanese. “But this time it isn’t quite as far, this time I travelled far.

“But you’ve done a fantastic job.”

Trump also highlighted the $13 billion (US$8.5 billion) critical minerals deal struck between the two nations.

“We’re working together on rare earths, on a lot of things together, so we’re working out very well,” he said.

The dinner meeting was held at the Gyeongju Hilton Hotel, where leaders from eight nations gathered, including Australia, the U.S., New Zealand, Canada, Thailand, South Korea, Vietnam, and Singapore.

The gathering was held in honour of Trump, who is carrying out his own tour of Asia, with planned stops in Malaysia to meet with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, overseeing a peace deal between Cambodia and Thailand, and attending the ASEAN leaders’ dinner.

He will also hold a highly anticipated meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping and another with Japan’s new Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi.

The APEC summit in Gyeongju runs until Oct. 31, bringing together leaders, CEOs, and policymakers from 21 Pacific Rim nations to discuss issues shaping the region’s future.

Wong Bound for Asia

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong is also set to travel to Asia to represent Australia at the APEC Ministerial Meeting.

Wong says the meeting will be important because one in four Australian jobs is reliant upon trade, and Australia must maintain its position in the world amid rising tensions.

“APEC economies make up over 60 percent of global GDP, are home to 3 billion people, and account for around 75 per cent of Australia’s total two-way trade,” she said in a statement.

“By participating in APEC, we strengthen Australia’s economic relationships and build new export opportunities and trade diversification.”