US President Joe Biden has greeted Anthony Albanese with a joke about how world leaders will understand if Australia’s new prime minister falls asleep at the Quad meeting.

Mr Albanese flew to Tokyo, meeting with the leaders of the US, Japan and India for the Quad meeting, just hours after being sworn in.

Mr Albanese has told the meeting dealing with climate change is a key issue for his government.

Director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, Michael Shoebridge, said President Biden will find a new ally in Australia’s new prime minister.

The pair spoke on the sidelines of the meeting, discussing China’s rising influence in the region, and plans for Mr Albanese to travel to the US.

“With Anthony Albanese I think he will be really refreshed to have a close partner on climate change,” he told Scott Emerson.

“People forget about it with the Biden agenda, but it has been a powerful part of his political and economic agenda back home, and now he thinks he has an aligned partner with Albanese.

“But he will be warning Albanese to continue the strong commitments around strategic matters on defense and security that he valued with Scott Morrison.”

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