Australia’s Foreign Minister To Visit Malaysia From June 28-30

PUTRAJAYA (Malaysia), June 28 (Bernama) -- Australia’s Foreign Minister Senator Penny Wong will undertake a three-day working visit to Malaysia starting Tuesday. Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry in a statement said the visit will further strengthen the longstanding close relations between Malaysia and Australia as Comprehensive Strategic Partners (CSP). It said during the visit Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah and Senator Wong are scheduled to meet and exchange views on various bilateral, regional and international issues of common interest. Senator Wong is also expected to meet Senior Minister of International Trade and Industry Mohamed Azmin Ali and Senior Minister of Defence Hishammuddin Hussein to discuss among others, matters relating to bilateral cooperation in trade and investment, as well as defence. The Australian Foreign Minister will also be visiting Kota Kinabalu (capital city of east Malaysian state Sabah) where she will have meetings with several state leaders including Deputy Chief Minister ll and Minister of Agriculture and Fishery Dr Jeffrey G. Kitingan and Minister of Local Government and Housing and Minister of Finance ll, Masidi Manjun. According to the statement, the visit offers a good opportunity for both countries to further explore more potential multifaceted collaborations for mutual benefits. “It also signifies Malaysia’s commitment to establish closer cooperation with the new Australian government,” it added. In 2021, Malaysia and Australia elevated its relations from Strategic Partnership to CSP. Australia was Malaysia's 13th largest trading partner in 2021 with total trade amounting to RM52.28 billion (US$12.43 billion), an increase of 28.7 per cent, compared to the recorded value in 2020. -- BERNAMA