Australia has named Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd — who is an eminent China policy expert — as its next ambassador to the U.S.
What Happened: Rudd’s appointment comes at a time when the two nations are deepening security cooperation in response to a rising threat from Beijing.
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Current Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Rudd is one of the world’s most sought-after experts on China and he would bring significant experience to the role at a time when the world is being reshaped by strategic competition, reported Reuters.
“Kevin Rudd is an outstanding appointment,” said Albanese at a news conference on Tuesday.
“He brings a great deal of credit to Australia by agreeing to take up this position as a former prime minister, as a former foreign minister.”
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Rudd is also a fluent Mandarin speaker and has written and spoken widely on foreign relations with China after quitting politics in 2013.
Rudd, who will take up his role in early 2023, reiterated the importance of the Australia-U.S. alliance and highlighted his close ties with American businesses and political leaders after nearly a decade of living and working in the country.
Meanwhile, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong is set to meet the Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi, amid soaring tensions in the Indo-Pacific. She will be the first top Australian diplomat to visit China in four years.
Photo: Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
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