Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is flying to Malaysia, marking the start of a week-long overseas trip that's set to focus on security and trade in the region.
Mr Albanese will join leaders at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit and the East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur and then fly to South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.
Speaking ahead of the trip, Mr Albanese said he would use the summits to discuss economic growth, security, and stability.
"These forums come at a critical time," he said.
"I look forward to engaging with our partners on trade, security and global challenges."
At the same time, US President Donald Trump is conducting his own tour across Asia.
President Trump will stop in Malaysia to meet with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and is set to oversee a peace deal that is being signed between Cambodia and Thailand, and attend the ASEAN leaders dinner. He will also travel to Tokyo to meet Japan's new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
His trip will finish in South Korea for a high-stakes meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, amidst escalating trade tensions between the world's two largest economies, on the sidelines of the APEC summit.
President Trump's trip to Malaysia follows announcements earlier this year by his administration to slap high tariffs on south-east Asian nations. Leaders want the President's visit to mark the beginning of a conversation about reducing trade barriers.
Speaking ahead of the ASEAN summit, Prime Minister Anwar said he hoped he could facilitate trade talks between the US and China.
"If there is some sort of progress or achievement [between China and the US] …I would be very happy and I think Malaysians would be proud because it would be of immense assistance and help to us as a trading nation to see these two countries be friends," he said.
Susannah Patton, Deputy Research Director and Program Director for Southeast Asia at the Lowy Institute, said it was unusual for a US President to attend the ASEAN summit, but it had brought excitement to the region.
"They want to establish a relationship with him [Donald Trump] in much the same way as our Prime Minister going to Washington wanted to use it as a way of putting the relationship on a firm footing," she said.
"They know the US is important for balance in the region, they don't want to be solely dependent on China."
Business and relationship opportunities
The Albanese government is also more broadly looking to strengthen business ties and trading relationships with countries outside of China and the US to diversify further.
The federal government commissioned businessman Nicholas Moore in 2022 to outline ways to improve ties with ASEAN nations, mainly through business, cultural and educational means.
At the time of its release, Mr Moore said there were "significant opportunities to boost [Australia's] trade relationship" to help meet the needs of businesses and consumers.
Mr Moore will be travelling with the Prime Minister to ASEAN to continue discussions on how to further progress the recommendations in his report.
Associate Professor Ross Tapsell, South-east Asia expert at the Australian National University, said Australia's relationship at a leadership level remained solid but there were 'fundamental' problems that needed to be addressed — as highlighted in Mr Moore's report.
"Our trade relationship with ASEAN remains underdone, our universities and schools are rapidly cutting South-east Asian language and exchange programs, and we don't really have a soft power strategy," he said.
"So with each passing day we lose influence in the region as China's influence in these areas grows.
"To put it in housing terms, the letterbox and front porch look nice and shiny, but inside the house is starting to fall apart."
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the summits will provide an opportunity to further boost trade options.
"One in four Australian jobs rely on trade and we will be focused on continuing to grow our key economic and trade relationships during ASEAN and APEC," he said.
Not choosing sides
Leaders of most South-east Asian countries have long argued against the notion of having to either back the United States or China.
Last year, Malaysia's Prime Minister insisted his country could be friends with everyone.
"[Western countries] should not preclude us from being friendly to one of our important neighbours, precisely China," Prime Minister Anwar said.
He was one of several world leaders that attended the major military parade that China held earlier this year to mark 80 years since the end of World War two.
Associate Professor Ross Tapsell pointed to growing support for China in the region.
"Domestically, opinion polls in some South-east Asian countries have shown a decline in favourable perceptions towards the United States since Trump was re-elected and his tariffs introduced, while favourable views of China and even Russia have increased," he said.
From Australia's point of view, there are ongoing concerns about China's military strength and its growing presence in the South China Sea.
Susannah Patton said to ensure South-east Asian nations didn't just rely on China, the United States and other western nations need to maintain an active presence in the region.
"That is why they [South-east Asian nations] are so keen to have the US President there, because they are worried about a situation in which the US lacks interest in the region and they are left to rely solely on China…Australia's priority should be about partnership and providing them with options," she said.
