Source: Prime Minister of Australia
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA: Well, Prime Minister, you are most welcome in Brisbane at what is going to be a very historic day in the relationship between our two nations, but also our relationship across the Pacific family as well – quite a gathering. So many things bring us together. Geography, of course, means we are part of the family and the blue continent, but more importantly than that is our people-to-people relations, the exchanges that have occurred over a long period of time, between going back to our First Nations people for the exchanges in the Pacific, as well. We’re economic partners, we’re partners in acting against the challenge, but also the opportunities that come from acting on climate change. We’re partners in sport, where Samoa punches way above it’s weight, of course, in our National Rugby League competition, and in the international game as well, which we are pleased to support you on. The diaspora and the Pacific Labour Mobility Program is very important, dealing with challenges that we want to work with you on, on transnational crime, on climate change, on all of the opportunities as well. We also want an ocean of peace. Together, the Pacific Island Forum will make a very strong statement soon about the missile testing that occurred in the Pacific. And we work together, I think, closer and closer. I was given the enormous honour of being made a Chief during my visit as well. It was one of the honours of my life. It was one of those very special occasions that one. I regard it as a great honour. So you’re very welcome here. And I hope this afternoon we will have another meeting, and then we’ll be at the football, but then we have the Pacific Island Forum meeting and the Pre-Cop meeting in Fiji. We will see a lot of each other over the coming months, and I really look forward to elevating our relationship, making it even stronger than it is today. Thank you, Prime Minister.
< LA’AULIALEMALIETOA LEUATEA POLATAIVAO FOSI SCHMIDT, PRIME MINISTER OF SAMOA:
< PRIME MINISTER ALBANESE:
< PRIME MINISTER LA’AULIALEMALIETOA: