Southeast Asia’s importance to Australia’s economic future is undeniable, but attempts to meet the promises of the region seem stretched. The upcoming trip to China by the Albanese government, meanwhile, will provide some ground to regaining the former economic partnership with Beijing.

This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese attends G20, ASEAN-Australia Summit and East Asia Summit; Philippines relationship elevated to Strategic Partnership; Wong at Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Fiji; and more

International students have returned in significant numbers to pursue further education at Australia's universities. As universities continue to cut courses and reduce expenses, international students may find it a more difficult place to study than prior to the pandemic. 

Most people don’t realise that despite abolition more than 200 years ago, slavery remains a problem today. It is cheap and readily accessible, and may exist in the supply chains of brands that many use or wear daily. 

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) brings unprecedented opportunities to the country. Together with 14 other states, Australia joins the world’s largest trade partnership ever created, tapping into 2.2 billion consumers and 30 percent of the world’s GDP.

As the international community grapples with restoring democratic governance in Niger after the July 26 coup, many factors point to a possible military action there in the future. But any intervention must first address the burden of what it might mean for stability in the Sahel region.

An increasing number of Chinese small-medium enterprises (SMEs) are expanding internationally. While global platforms serve as the driving forces of Chinese SME internationalisation, institutional escape perspective provide unique insights into this prominent phenomenon in the global marketplace.

Many ongoing challenges pervade ASEAN-China relations, not least China's assertive maritime claims in the South China Sea (SCS). Further dialogue on a Code of Conduct for the SCS at this years summit illustrates that reaching an agreement may simply be impossible.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese can already claim some sort of diplomatic coup even before he visits the Philippines on September 8. After all, he will be the first Australian prime minister to embark on an official bilateral visit to the nation in two decades. 

Systemic racism utilizes various modes of segregation to discriminate and exploit African Americans in order to reinforce a racially hierarchical political economy in the United States of America. Ending institutional racism should be at the top of the agenda for the government.