Australia has what others want and is prepared to do deals on critical minerals with more than just the US, Anthony Albanese says.
The prime minister also had another “informal” meeting with Xi Jinping, although he would not confirm whether defence tensions were raised with the Chinese president.
Leveraging Australia’s massive reserves of critical minerals and rare earths into deals with more countries in the region was one of Mr Albanese’s goals at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea.
Having signed a landmark $8.5 billion deal with US President Donald Trump last week, the prime minister wants to keep up the mineral momentum to boost the domestic economy.
“What we did with the United States was a framework,” Mr Albanese said on Friday.
“Australia has these products, critical minerals and rare earths that are in demand around the world.
“We see this as … not just an opportunity between Australia and the United States, this is an opportunity for Australian jobs and Australian economic growth.”
While confirming he did meet with President Xi, Mr Albanese would not divulge whether diplomatic incidents in the South China Sea were mentioned after they were raised in talks with Premier Li Qiang earlier in the week.
“I don’t go out of private discussions and come in here and discuss them, because that way you won’t have diplomatic advancement,” the prime minister told reporters.
“It was an informal discussion with President Xi.”
Mr Albanese also would not be drawn on the controversy swirling around Australia’s head of state and whether the King made the right decision to strip Prince Andrew of his royal titles.
“I think His Majesty King Charles can make decisions without the benefit of my advice,” he said.
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