The Australian Prime Minister said his country's goals are in line with the Quad's, and he wants the group to take the lead on climate change

Images: Reuters Berita 24 English - On Tuesday, new Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his ambitions were in line with the Quad...

Images: Reuters

Berita 24 English - On Tuesday, new Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his ambitions were in line with the Quad's priorities, telling the leaders of the United States, India, and Japan that he wanted them all to take the lead on climate change.

Albanese, Australia's Labor Party leader who was sworn in as the country's 31st prime minister a day earlier, also stated that the Quad would "hold fast on our principles and convictions" in order to improve the Indo-Pacific region's stability.

"The new Australian government's priorities fit with the Quad agenda, taking action on climate change and building a stronger and more resilient Indo-Pacific region," Albanese said in Tokyo during a meeting with the other three Quad leaders, including US President Joe Biden.

The informal alliance, sponsored by the US, was formed to counter China's growing political, commercial, and military presence in the region.

Climate change, Albanese said, was the greatest economic and security challenge for low-lying island countries in the Pacific, an area where China has been expanding its influence.

"The area expects us to collaborate with them and set an example," he said.

"That is why my government will take bold climate action and boost our support for regional partners working to address it, including through new funding," he said.

He stated that his government is committed to a greater focus on Southeast Asia and to "exploit the potential of proximity" to expand its Pacific defense and maritime relationships.

As part of a tour to eight Pacific island nations, China's foreign minister Wang Yi will visit the Solomon Islands this week to sign major accords, including a security pact that has been criticized by the US, Australia, and Japan.

On Tuesday, Albanese told reporters: "The Solomon Islands were mentioned at the discussion, as was China's desire to establish more influence in the Pacific. We are aware of this, and Australia, together with the United States, is responding."

"How can we make sure we push our shared principles in the region at a time when China is clearly striving to exert more influence?" he said the Quad had addressed.

Because "fish stocks are so crucial to our Pacific island neighbors," he said, the Quad is looking into maritime security and illicit fishing.