LATIKA M BOURKE: Anthony Albanese accepts Global Citizen award among celebrities and elites in New York City

Rubbing shoulders with celebrities is one of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s happy places.

Foreign affairs and national security, less so. But the two collided on Wednesday night in New York, when the Labor leader was lauded for his role as a “Global Citizen”.

He shared a stage with Hollywood stars Cynthia Erivo, who was also honoured; as well as Keanu Reeves, who had the honour of introducing another recipient, F1 boss Stefano Domenicali and danced on-stage to the delight of the audience.

One other politician was held up in lights — Finland’s President Alexander Stubb. Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape introduced Mr Albanese to the crowd gathered to celebrate what the Atlantic Council called the “highest expression of global citizenship”.

Mr Marape said Mr Albanese was a “fair dinkum Aussie”.

He said Mr Albanese had led Pacific-led solutions, and praised the recent Alliance struck between PNG and Australia.

“We need leadership that recognises that international relationships must ultimately improve the lives of people across all borders, my friend Mr Albanese understands this responsibility,” he said.

He said introducing Mr Albanese to the crowd was the “greatest honour” of his life.

“In honouring Anthony Albanese, you also shine a light on our Pacific, our people, our ocean, our forests, our challenges, our opportunities and of course our contribution to our shared planet.

“As your friend, I acknowledge your wife Jodie, the Australian people and your colleagues who you supported you in carrying the responsibilities of public office.”

A video played before Mr Albanese’s award was granted showed footage of Donald Trump flattering Mr Albanese during their White House meeting last year as a “highly respected” leader who had done a “fantastic job as Prime Minister”.

It featured Mr Albanese talking about the AUKUS submarine pact, which was forged by the former Coalition government, as well as the Prime Minister pledging to invest in defence. At home, Mr Albanese has faced intense criticism over his levels of defence spending, which are well below the 3.5 per cent of GDP that the Trump administration has requested.

Mr Albanese said he accepted the award with humility on behalf of Australia and that it was the honour of his life to serve Australians.

“To the extraordinary fellow award winners that I share the stage with tonight, Alex, to Stefano, to Cynthia, I do think my brother a very special man – the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea,” he said.

He told the attendees, many of whom gave him a standing ovation, that the post-1945 world order was no longer fit for purpose.

“Australia’s response to this is to actively seek to shape and build the order that replaces the old while preserving the rules that matter most,” he said.

“How Washington and Beijing manage their relationship really does matter profoundly and we’ve seen that this week but it cannot be the only lens through which we see the region in which I live.”

Hours earlier US President Donald Trump greeted Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington DC.

“The Indo-Pacific is not a chessboard on which superpowers move the pieces, it’s countries and its people are not spectators,” Mr Albanese said.

“Australia is strengthening our own sovereign capability with our partners, we’re strengthening defence, but also strengthening economic security and supply chain cooperation.

“The rules that supported our region’s growth are under real strain, we must strengthen the institutions that give cooperation legitimacy alongside partnerships.”

He said that Australia had forged new partnerships with the Pacific, Vietnam, the Philippines, Singapore and Brunei and said the two new Alliances forged with PNG and Fiji were “significant breakthroughs” as they were their first alliances ever signed.

He emphasised that climate change was the greatest security threat according to the Pacific.

Speaking earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio agreed that the international order was broken.

“The international system is not in good shape right now,” Mr Rubio said.

“The limit of international norms is your national interest.”

Mr Albanese was well received in the room of elites that gathered more than 800 business, military, media, diplomatic and civil society figures.

Mr Albanese will speak to former prime minister Kevin Rudd at the Asia Society on Thursday before addressing the United National General Assembly for the second time.