Doorstop – Gyeongju, Republic of Korea

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning. It’s unbelievable to be right here in Korea for the APEC Leaders’ Summit and it has been a busy time already. Yesterday, going to the memorial to pay tribute to the Australians for whom Korea is their last resting place, but additionally, to point out respect to the greater than 17,000 Australians who fought as a part of the UN forces throughout the Korean War. It was a chance, as Australia’s Prime Minister, to point out that respect and to additionally meet Korean veterans of the battle who got here to point out their respect and their because of Australia for our participation within the combat for freedom and democracy right here within the Republic of Korea.

Last evening, we had a terrific casual dinner hosted by the President of Korea with the President of the United States, President Trump, because the particular visitor. But it was a chance, for round about two hours, to have a dialogue with 4 of the Five Eyes international locations, with the United States, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, along with our neighbours right here in Asia in Korea, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam. It was a chance to as soon as once more have a dialogue with President Trump in regards to the profitable assembly that we had only a week in the past to strengthen the help for AUKUS, the help for our defence and safety relationship, but additionally our help for the vital minerals and uncommon earths preparations which have been put in place. And to strengthen the financial relationship that now we have with not simply with the United States, however with our area right here as nicely. It was an actual alternative to develop relationships additional with leaders from these seven different international locations and a extremely optimistic initiative from the President of Korea, who I’ll have a bilateral assembly with later in the present day.

In addition to that, in the present day I’ll go to POSCO. POSCO is Australia’s greatest industrial accomplice. Just final 12 months, this thoughts boggling determine, $18.2 billion of Australian exports from one firm, POSCO, proper right here in Korea. I visited POSCO’s operations in Australia that by and enormous are across the areas in Western Australia, in Townsville, in Victoria. These are an vital industrial relationship that now we have and I’ll be assembly with the CEO and the Chairman in the present day at their main amenities, watching the import of Australian worth. And what that’s, that represents Australian jobs and Australian financial exercise. That’s my focus of worldwide engagement. We dwell in a globalised world. These relationships are vital for our financial system and for jobs. They after all are additionally vital for our safety and for peace within the area as nicely.

Today, there will probably be an vital assembly, as we communicate, will start quickly, if it hasn’t already, between President Trump and President Xi. We welcome the assembly of the world’s two largest and strongest international locations and economies. We are optimistic a few optimistic consequence. I’ve had the chance now to have a dialogue with President Trump in addition to with Premier Li of China in simply the previous few days, and it has been a chance for me to interact with them. These are vital relationships for Australia.

Happy to take some questions.

JOURNALIST: What would optimistic consequence between the US and China appear to be to you and to Australia?

PRIME MINISTER: The world has an curiosity in financial exercise. We dwell in a globalised world and with a worldwide financial system. We need to see much less pressure in commerce and we need to see a optimistic consequence going ahead. We need international locations to work collectively. That’s one thing that now we have labored very strongly on. We have, if you happen to look simply at the previous few years, after we got here to authorities, the financial relationship with our main buying and selling accomplice had a variety of impediments. Those impediments have been eliminated. That means jobs for Australians, notably in our areas, in our agricultural sector, but additionally in our providers sector as nicely. We clearly additionally need to see a discount in pressure all over the world. And the United States and China have an vital function as the 2 main economies and the 2 main powers that exist in our area and proper across the globe.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, did Mr Trump personally invite you to that dinner final evening? How did you obtain the invitation?

PRIME MINISTER: We acquired the invitation within the typical manner and we engaged very constructively. And I used to be more than happy to just accept the invitation final evening and it was an ideal honour for Australia to be invited. It’s not the standard factor for such a small, intimate dinner, because it was final evening to happen, however an actual alternative and one which I used to be more than happy to just accept.

JOURNALIST: Can you verify whether or not or not you may attend subsequent week’s COP Leaders’ Summit in Brazil? And if you happen to’re not going, does that threat sending a sign that Australia just isn’t critical about its bid to host?

PRIME MINISTER: Not in any respect. I’m typically amused by the contradictory messages from Australian media saying I ought to do extra worldwide journey, however after I do, say I ought to do much less. We will work out our itinerary. Australia will probably be represented there. Parliament is sitting subsequent week. This is the primary full week of Parliament I’ve missed in 30 years, nearly, of illustration. And so clearly, this week is a leaders’ degree assembly, however we take COP very severely. We are advocating to host COP on the finish of subsequent 12 months. We’re working by means of these points.

JOURNALIST: But you gained’t be attending, simply to substantiate?

PRIME MINISTER: I did not say that. I very clearly did not say that. We’re working by means of these points. We’ll be represented. We make bulletins on the acceptable time.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, the US President has confirmed a inexperienced mild to transferring the nuclear know-how wanted to South Korea to allow them to construct nuclear-powered submarines. Given our monumental funding in AUKUS, does this concern you in any manner and do you agree with the abstract that many are taking from this, that South Korea is definitely being given a better degree of secret US nuclear know-how than we’ll obtain below AUKUS?

PRIME MINISTER: No, in a phrase. To put it clearly. These bilateral preparations are a matter for the United States and Korea. The preparations that Australia has entered into with the United States and the United Kingdom are in our nationwide curiosity, they’ll present for Australia to have entry to that know-how. And that is a really optimistic factor.

JOURNALIST: But simply following up on that, the US Defence Secretary mentioned it was extremely uncertain the US would be capable of maintain AUKUS whereas additionally serving to the South Koreans get nuclear. So, given this announcement by President Trump, do you suppose there are potential implications for AUKUS?

PRIME MINISTER: No. I feel President Trump’s feedback couldn’t have been clearer they usually had been very clear final week within the White House. They’ve been clear ever since. President Trump has made very express his not simply help for AUKUS, however certainly the bringing ahead of the timetable, if that’s doable.

JOURNALIST: Is there concern in regards to the prospect that Taiwan may be placed on the desk as a part of the commerce truce and that there may be a watering down of US resolve round Taiwan?

PRIME MINISTER: We help the established order in relation to Taiwan and its standing. That’s a longstanding bipartisan place that Australia has had. We have a bipartisan place for the One China coverage, however we additionally do not need to see any unilateral motion.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister Donald Trump had a number of feedback on tariffs yesterday. He mentioned tariffs have been correctly used. We do not use tariffs very a lot and so forth. He mentioned that tariffs have strengthened our alliances. Do you agree that the US tariffs have strengthened its alliance with Australia?

PRIME MINISTER: What I do is when I’m requested questions on President Trump’s feedback, I’m going again to the assertion that I made very early on within the presidency, which is I’m not going to present a working commentary on the feedback of President Trump, or anybody else for that matter. What I do is state Australia’s place. And Australia’s place is that we help free and honest commerce. We consider that the extra open that commerce happens, the higher it’s for the worldwide financial system, the higher it’s for Australia. And we constantly put that place.

JOURNALIST: You’ve spoken about tensions in the present day. You’ve beforehand mentioned phrases to the impact that we’re residing in essentially the most harmful strategic setting since World War II. Do you consider that’s nonetheless the case or is a few of that pressure easing? Could we see a few of that pressure ease additional in the present day?

PRIME MINISTER: We dwell in an period of strategic competitors. But what we’re seeing is admittedly optimistic developments. It is an effective factor that President Trump and President Xi are assembly in the present day. I’ve developed good, optimistic relationships with each President Trump and President Xi. I have interaction on Australia’s behalf diplomatically in a manner that advances Australia’s nationwide pursuits. Because it’s in Australia’s nationwide curiosity for there to be peace and safety in our area, for there to be financial engagement. One in 4 of Australia’s jobs relies upon upon commerce. Over 75 per cent of Australia’s commerce is with APEC members. That is why it is in Australia’s curiosity for me to be right here, why the Foreign Minister, Penny Wong has joined us right here in Korea in the present day, and why she will probably be having conferences together with her respective international ministers in the present day as nicely. The assembly with POSCO is only one instance of business relations which are occurring between Australia and companies on this area. $18.2 billion of Australian exports coming right here to only one firm represents by far the largest financial relationship between one firm and Australia that exists. That is essential. And over coming days as nicely, with the APEC assembly tomorrow, it has been a chance for us to have bilateral conferences in addition to the casual assembly of goodwill that occurred final evening.

JOURNALIST: On final evening, once more, can I simply make clear, when did you obtain that invite and had been you conscious going into that occasion that you’d be sat on the proper hand aspect of the US President?

PRIME MINISTER: Yes, I used to be. Thank you.