Singapore PM to visit Australia in October

CANBERRA, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Singapore's Prime Minister (PM) Lee Hsien Loong will visit Australia while a "green economy agreement" is expected to be signed to streamline climate-friendly finance and technology development.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported on Monday that Lee will visit Australia on Oct. 16-18 for annual leaders' talks.

It will be the first face-to-face meeting between Lee and Australian PM Anthony Albanese since the latter won power in May's general election.

The green agreement, which has not yet been finalized, will aim to facilitate renewable energy - including hydrogen - deals between businesses from Australia and Singapore.

According to the ABC, Lee is also expected to visit the Australian War Memorial and meet with Premier of New South Wales Dominic Perrottet.

Richard McGregor, an Asia expert at think tank the Lowy Institute, said that Lee was likely to take a more favorable view of the policies of Albanese than his predecessor Scott Morrison.

"With the flux in policy in Canberra, I think Lee will find a ready audience with the new government," McGregor told The Australian.