ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Can I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners and pay my respects to elder's past, present and emerging, and to say, it's fantastic to be here in Kirrawee, and I thank the school principal, the teachers, and importantly, the students for the very warm welcome here today.

The Australian Government has today launched Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040 to deepen Australia’s economic engagement with our region and ensure our shared future prosperity.

The strategy, developed by Mr Nicholas Moore AO, Special Envoy for Southeast Asia, was announced by the Prime Minister at the ASEAN Indo-Pacific Forum in Jakarta today.

It sets out a practical pathway to increase Australia’s two-way trade and investment with the region.

Well, thank you very much to Mr President and First Lady Dr Biden.

I must say, I only have one regret about tonight, which is – I'm not quite sure how I top this for date night with Jodie at anytime, anywhere in the future.

It's all downhill from here, my darling.

Ladies and gentlemen.

We live in a world that does keep changing. Yet one thing that keeps the ground firm beneath us is the great constant that is the American spirit.

America has never been held back by the unknown or slowed by trepidation.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has visited the United States Federal Emergency Management Agency to recognise the courage, skill and dedication of emergency management personnel and to discuss further cooperation on disaster resilience and management.

With over 100 years of mateship, Australia and the United States have a proud history of helping each other in times of need, including when faced with natural disasters.

Madam Vice President

Secretary of State Blinken

Distinguished guests

We meet today at a time when our world faces a set of profound challenges.

Far and wide, we are confronted by threats to peace and tests of the international rules-based order.

And here in United States we can see the weight of global leadership that your nation carries.

I came to Washington this week to continue the work of facing our alliance to the future.

I was saddened to learn of the passing of former Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, H.E. Mr Li Keqiang.

During Mr Li's period in office, significant strides were made in our bilateral relationship including the conclusion of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement. When we met last year in the margins of the East Asia Summit, we discussed the importance of these ties and our desire to see them develop further.

On behalf of the Government and the people of Australia, I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family and to the people of China.

I am saddened by news of the passing of Helena Carr whilst travelling overseas with her husband and life partner Bob. An extraordinary life as a much loved and compassionate person.

Helena was a successful businesswoman who was respected by all who were privileged to know her. 

My deepest sympathies to Bob and all who knew and loved Helena. Bob’s beautiful statement speaks to the depths of his grief as well as the strength of their love. 

Vale Helena Carr. May she rest in peace.

DAVID SPEERS, HOST: Prime Minister, thanks so much for giving us some time here in Washington.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Wonderful to be here.

SPEERS: You've spent a fair bit of time over the last few days with President Biden, and it seems, pretty much every time he's appeared alongside you, he said something about China, expressing concerns about China or the Indo Pacific, even warning you about trusting China. Why do you think that is?

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: The visit to China symbolises the normalisation, a more stable relationship, I say consistently we should cooperate with China where we can, disagree where we must and engage in our national interest. I'm very much looking forward to the visit to Shanghai and Beijing. Dialogue is always a good idea.

JOURNALIST: How do you balance the expectations from the US with our trade relationship with China.

In our quest to build a better future, one of the things that makes it possible to reach so high is what lies beneath our feet.

And in our continent, nowhere is that truer than in Western Australia.

That’s one of the messages I’ve taken to America this week, where we’ve been following up an important step we took in Japan earlier this year.

In May, Australia and the United States made history when we signed the Compact on Critical Minerals and Clean Energy.