Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's subtle arts of statesmanship and regional diplomacy will be on test as he seeks to solidify Australia's relations with Indonesia to counter China's influence in the region.
The statement was a reference to the great rivalry playing out in Indonesia's backyard between an increasingly assertive China and the United States, which views Beijing as its number one threat .
"We don't want to choose either side when we're talking about China or the United States," he said, noting China is Indonesia's biggest trading partner.China won't be the only delicate issue for Mr Albanese to navigate during his first official meeting with his Indonesian counterpart.already attracting controversy because of the likely attendance of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
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