Calls Relations With Beijing 'difficult' After Being Sworn In As Australian PM, Albanese: China Has Changed

PM Australia Anthony Albanese. (Twitter/@AlboMP)

JAKARTA - The leader of the Australian Labor Party, Anthony Albanese, was sworn in as the country's 31st prime minister on Monday, promising a "travel for change" as he seeks to tackle climate change, rising costs of living and inequality.

Albanese was sworn in by Governor-General David Hurley in a ceremony in the capital Canberra.

After being sworn in, he said relations with China would remain 'difficult' before leaving for Tokyo, Japan for a Quad summit with US President Joe Biden, Japanese PM and Indian PM.

"It is China that has changed, not Australia, and Australia must always stand up for our values and we will be in the government I lead," Albanese told a news conference, having served as the country's 31st prime minister. .

Australia's relations with China, its biggest trading partner, are on the decline after they clashed over a number of issues including trade, the origins of the coronavirus and allegations of foreign interference from Australia.

As reported earlier, the Labor Party returned to power after nine years in opposition as an unprecedented, wave of support for Greens and climate-focused independents, mostly women, helped end nearly a decade of rule by a conservative coalition in Saturday's general election.

Labor deputy leader Richard Marles and three top ministers, Penny Wong, Jim Chalmers and Katy Gallagher were also sworn in today. After that, Wong is planned to join the Albanese PM on a visit to Japan.