Thread by @hughriminton

Random thoughts from the #G20, a 🧵.
Business Council of Australia head Jennifer Westacott has credited #AnthonyAlbanese with a “tremendous reset” on foreign policy. She says signs of a thaw with #China are a “win for Australia”, and she’s been struck at the G20 by the ..

“esteem in which Australia is now held.” This is unambiguous and historically rare praise from the big business lobby. Beyond his meeting with #XiJinping tomorrow, and with #JoeBiden yesterday, Albanese has met or will meet Modi, Macron, Sunak and Widodo, who gave a speech…

..warmly in his favour tonight. Albanese credits it with Australia being moved “out of the naughty corner” thanks to its genuine engagement with the issues of a warming planet. But it strikes me there’s more to it than that. A more grown up approach to diplomacy doubtless helps..

Also, immensely important is what appears to be a genuine change of tone from #XiJinping. His meeting with Biden saw both men acknowledge both the hole the relationship has fallen into, and the importance of the relationship to the whole world. Strikes me this is the other…

..context in which Xi’s meeting with Albanese must be seen. Perhaps Xi has recognised there is no value in being isolated as Putin has been, that a less combative approach might actually serve China’s needs.. perhaps he’s just foxing or playing a double blind… But the tone ..

..change is definitive and could signal an important new shift. All to the better, if so. And if so, some credit must go to Biden for his steady, resolute posture towards China. Truth is, we won’t really know for some time, but if a positive change is upon us, the Bali G20 was..

..where we saw it first.
Good night from #NusaDua.