Australia, China will work on regional energy security, Prime Minister says

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he discussed the importance of energy security in a phone call with his Chinese counterpart Li Qiang on Tuesday, as the Iran war disrupts the global energy market.

• Albanese and Li agreed to increase government-to-government communication in support of regional energy security, his office said in a statement

• Commenting on ties with China, Albanese said Australia will cooperate "where we can, disagree where we must and engage in the national interest"

• "Engagement and dialogue between Australia and China at the highest levels are central to a mature, stable and constructive relationship," the Australian statement read

• Albanese said he looked forward to visiting China for the APEC Leaders' Meeting in November where he will meet Li.

• China is Australia's largest trading partner. China's biggest imports from Australia include liquefied natural gas

-Reporting by Reuters staff; editing by Barbara Lewis/Reuters