Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong is embarking on a regional tour to Laos, Japan, and the Republic of Korea to bolster Australia's relationships with key regional partners and address pressing regional challenges.

In Laos, Minister Wong will attend the ASEAN-Australia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, marking the 50th anniversary of Australia becoming ASEAN's first dialogue partner. This meeting builds on outcomes from the earlier Special Summit in Melbourne and underscores Australia's support for Laos as the 2024 ASEAN Chair. Minister Wong will also participate in the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the ASEAN Regional Forum to enhance regional cooperation.

Following Laos, Minister Wong will head to Tokyo for the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting with Japan, India, and the United States. The meeting will focus on key Indo-Pacific priorities, including infrastructure, supply chains, education, disaster responses, and security, aiming to deliver tangible regional benefits.

Her final stop will be in the Republic of Korea, where she will meet Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul in Seoul. The discussions will focus on advancing the comprehensive strategic partnership between Australia and South Korea, with a particular emphasis on energy transition and economic security.

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