TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Foreign Minister of Australia Penny Wong will head to Jakarta after confirming attendance at the annual ASEAN-Australia Foreign Ministers' Meeting, East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting, and ASEAN Regional Forum. Australia sees ASEAN at the center of a stable, peaceful, and prosperous region.

"We have deep family, education, tourism, and business connections with the countries of Southeast Asia, and our future is tied to the future of the region we share," said Wong in a written media release.

The Australian Embassy in Jakarta on July 11, 2023, explained that in the meeting with ASEAN Foreign Ministers, Wong will discuss the opportunity to strengthen ASEAN and Australia's cooperation under ASEAN-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, including on climate change, health security, and the ASEA Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. According to Minister Wong, a strong ASEAN is indispensable to the stability of the region. She also added that Australia will continue to work in partnership with ASEAN to shape the kind of region desirable to all parties.

Meanwhile, at the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting and ASEA Regional Forum, Wong will outline Australia's vision for the region, and how ASEAN may cooperate with Australia to address their shared challenges.

Minister Wong's visit to Jakarta is only a week after President Jokowi's Annual Leaders' Meeting in Australia. According to Wong, her visit to Indonesia is an opportunity to further strengthen the Indonesia-Australia partnership and to reiterate Australia's support for Indonesia's [priorities as 2023 ASEA Chair. She added that Indonesia is central to Australia's prosperity and security.

During her visit to Jakarta, Wong will attend the launch of a photo exhibition marking 70 years of Australian scholarships in Indonesia, participate in a discussion with young Indonesian about shared aspirations for the region, and visit a local health center to affirm the health reform partnership with Indonesia.

SUCI SEKARWATI

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