Around the World: Prime Ministerial Trips

Walk into any nightclub across the nation and it is likely you’ll hear the dance tunes of artist Pitbull, widely known as ‘Mr Worldwide’.

In 2025, it is an apt term to describe Prime Minister, the Hon Anthony Albanese MP, colloquially known as ‘DJ Albo’ for his performances on the DJ decks, as he criss-crosses the globe to represent Australia and its interests on the international stage.

With the Prime Minister at the 80^th United Nations General Assembly in New York this week, join Nexus APAC as we examine his international engagements since the 2025 federal election.

Travelling to Jakarta from 14 to 16 May, Prime Minister Albanese met President Prabowo Subianto of the Republic of Indonesia for his first overseas visit since the election. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening defence and security cooperation and discussed developing greater economic trading ties.

Indonesia was also the Prime Minister’s first bilateral visit following his election in 2022, underscoring the immense value placed on the Australia-Indonesia relationship as Australia pursues greater engagement with the Indo-Pacific region.

Prior to the 2025 G7 Summit held in Kananaskis, Canada from 16 to 17 June, with Australia invited as an outreach partner, Prime Minister Albanese met Canadian Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Mark Carney PC MP in Calgary to discuss trade and defence opportunities. A free and open Indo?Pacific’s was also a topic of discussion.

At the G7 Summit, Prime Minister Albanese took part in ‘partner discussions’ on energy security, critical minerals, reliable supply chains, advanced technologies, infrastructure and investments. Australia endorsed the G7 Critical Minerals Action Plan, aiming to build standards?based markets, mobilise capital, and promote innovation in the critical minerals sector. Through its participation, Australia reaffirmed its commitment to multilateralism, democratic alliances, global energy security, and economic resilience.

A month later, Prime Minister Albanese visited China from 12 to 18 July. The visit focused overwhelmingly on revitalising economic ties by modernising the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA). The centrepiece of the Prime Minister’s visit was a series of meetings with China’s most senior leaders in Beijing. The Prime Minister held his fourth meeting with President Xi Jinping, met Premier Li Qiang for their third Annual Leaders’ Meeting, and had his second meeting with Chairman Zhao Leji of the National People’s Congress.

In Shanghai, the Prime Minister met with representatives from leading Australian businesses (part of a delegation from the Business Council of Australia) and Chinese businesses to discuss the development of the bilateral economic relationship. In Beijing, the Prime Minister and Premier Li also participated in the 8^th Australia-China CEO Roundtable and witnessed the signature of bilateral arrangements to progress cooperation in trade, agriculture and tourism.

Just last week, Prime Minister Albanese gathered with other Pacific leaders in Port Moresby to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of Papua New Guinea’s independence. Papua New Guinea was formerly administered by Australia as a single territory between 1949 and 1975.

The visit also saw the release of a joint communique by Prime Minister Albanese and Prime Minister the Hon James Marape MP of Papua New Guinea. This announced that both Papua New Guinea and Australia had agreed on the text of a Mutual Defence Treaty (known as the Pukpuk Treaty) which will elevate the defence relationship between both countries to an Alliance. The will be signed following Cabinet processes in both countries.

The core principles of the proposed Treaty include a “a mutual defence Alliance which recognises that an armed attack on Australia or Papua New Guinea would be a danger to the peace and security of both countries”.

The 80^th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, held this week in New York, was the Prime Minister’s most significant multilateral appearance to date, attended by 193 countries. In his address to the General Assembly, the Prime Minister referenced Australia’s recognition of the state of Palestine, in line with the United Kingdom and Canada among others.

Accompanied by Foreign Minister, the Hon Senator Penny Wong and Minister for Climate Change and Energy, the Hon Chris Bowen MP, the Prime Minister also used his visit to the UN to promote investment in Australia, particularly in renewable energy and advanced manufacturing, and to highlight Australia’s action on climate change and world-first under 16’s social media ban.

With meetings in London on Friday with United Kingdom Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP, and Canadian Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Mark Carney PC MP, followed by a final stop in the United Arab Emirates to discuss the Australia–UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Prime Minister has been a busy custodian of Australia’s international interests.

Stay tuned for more Nexus APAC insights as we continue to track the issues that matter most in Canberra.

Photo credit: Basil D Soufi