The prime minister is embarking on one of his most important diplomatic endeavours as he lands in the US.

Anthony Albanese arrived in New York City on Sunday morning Australian time, hand-in-hand with fiancee Jodie Haydon, before a long-awaited United Nations General Assembly meeting.

The prime minister and his counterparts from the UK, Canada and France are set to officially recognise the state of Palestine, in a major departure from Australia's historic alignment to US foreign policy.

"In the world, Australia plays an important role," he told reporters on the tarmac of John F Kennedy International Airport in New York.

"What we want to see is increased peace and security and stability around the world.

"We are a country that play a positive role in our region, in the Pacific, as well

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