Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono made a working visit to Sydney Australia and held a bilateral meeting with Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Penny Wong in Sydney on March, 20th. The two discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation, especially in the economic sector. This is Minister Sugiono's first official visit to Australia since being inaugurated in October 2024. In the meeting, Minister Sugiono and Minister Penny Wong committed to strengthening economic cooperation, development, people-to-people relations between the two countries, and agreed to strengthen defense and security cooperation in the region. The two Ministers also agreed on the importance of fostering mutual trust and close friendship between the two countries.
"This visit signifies a strong partnership between the two countries built on shared values, mutual respect for sovereignty, and a strong commitment to contribute to peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, and in the world." Furthermore, Foreign Minister Sugiono and Foreign Minister Penny Wong also agreed to update the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Action Plan (2025–2029). In the meeting, Foreign Minister Penny Wong demonstrated the close bilateral relations between the two countries, both in the fields of politics, economy, and people-to-people relations. "Increasing economic relations with Indonesia is very important and is key to Australia's economic diversification efforts, especially through the growing markets in Southeast Asia," said Foreign Minister Penny Wong. We will continue the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership cooperation through mutually beneficial cooperation in strategic areas, such as trade and investment, critical minerals, EVs and batteries, agriculture and food security, education, research, defense and security, and people-to-people relations," concluded Foreign Minister Sugiono.
