Philadelphia, Sep 21 Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday met US President Joe Biden at his home in Wilmington. He gifted a leather jacket to the 80-year-old leader.
The two leaders held bilateral talks ahead of the Quad Leaders Summit in Wilmington, Delaware on Saturday.
“It was a great honour for me to be invited to meet President Biden at his home in Wilmington,” Albanese said after his meeting with Biden on Saturday morning Indian time.
“It was wonderful to get a tour around his home, interact with him face-to-face, then have a 90-minute meeting between our delegation and President Biden, Secretary Lincoln, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Ambassador Kennedy to Australia,” the Australian PM said.
The Australian Prime Minister said there was an ‘exchange of gifts’ between the two leaders. The US President presented him with a book on his school – Archmere Academy.
“We gave the President a leather jacket from the Air Force, on which his name and full details were written, and he was very happy to receive this gift,” Albanese said.
This is the first time that Biden is hosting foreign leaders at his private home in Wilmington as President. This also includes a leaders’ dinner.
The Australian Prime Minister described the conversation with the US President as ‘warm and charming’. He described it as a discussion between colleagues and friends.
Albanese said, “It was my understanding that this was the first time a foreign leader met him at his home. I think it is a great honor.”
When asked about concerns over Biden’s age, the Australian Prime Minister said, “He is fit and does his job very well, he is someone who is a great honour to spend time with. He is charming. He has served as the Vice President of the United States for eight years and as the President for almost four years. He is someone who has extensive experience in the US Senate.”
