Australia PM Albanese visits East Timor to discuss security, gas

SYDNEY, Jan 27 – Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will flag Australia’s desire for deeper security and energy ties when he addresses East Timor’s parliament on Wednesday, in his first visit to the northern neighbour as leader. The visit comes as the tiny Catholic nation, also courted by China, continues to push to build a liquefied natural gas plant on its south coast, instead of the Australian city of Darwin. Albanese will address East Timor’s parliament and meet its President Jose Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao. According to excerpts of his speech shared in advance, Albanese will recall cooperation between…