During a debate on Wednesday ahead of the 3 May election, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that he trusted US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to AP News.
Albanese faced his rival, opposition leader Peter Dutton, in a televised debate. The prime minister, responding to a question from the moderator, emphasised his trust in the US and China despite the breach of bilateral agreements undermining Australian exports.
He said the Trump administration had imposed the same 10% tariffs on Australian imports as it had applied to other countries.
At the same time, Dutton criticised Trump and Vice President JD Vance for disparaging Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during the latter’s visit to the Oval Office. Dutton, however, emphasised that he believed “very strongly” in the relationship with China, Australia’s biggest importer.
I want to see the relationship grow and I want to see trust in the relationship. But we have to stand up for our sovereignty, we have to have a respectful relationship.
Albanese and Dutton are set to clash in the final debate on 22 April before the election.
