Foreign Minister Penny Wong to depart for next diplomatic overseas trip

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has confirmed her next diplomatic trip which will include one sweet detail.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong will return to the Malaysian city she once called home as part of her next diplomatic trip.

Senator Wong will on Sunday embark on her second visit to southeast Asia since she was sworn into her portfolio in May.

Her trip will include a visit to her former home city — Kota Kinabalu — on the island of Borneo.

Senator Wong’s first stop will be Vietnam, where she will meet with President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and her counterpart, Foreign Minister Bùi Thanh Sõn.

Her trip comes ahead of next year’s 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Australia.

She said her discussions with Vietnamese officials will focus on climate change co-operation, shared trade and investment ambitions and Australia’s continued support for Vietnam’s Covid-19 recovery.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has confirmed her plans for her next overseas trip. Picture: Dion Isaacson/Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade/ AFP

Senator Wong is due to travel onto Malaysia on Tuesday where she will hold talks with Malaysian officials to discuss economic recovery, climate action, education ties and health security.

She is expected to meet with Minister for Foreign Affairs Dato’ Sri Saifuddin bin Abdullah, Defence Minister Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and Minister for International Trade and Investment, Dato’ Seri Azmin Ali.

Senator Wong said she would reaffirm Australia’s commitment as a Comprehensive Strategic Partner to Malaysia.

She will then travel to the Sabah region in Borneo.

“It’s a region with longstanding ties to Australia, and it’s the region where I am from,” she said.

“Having spent my early years in Kota Kinabalu, I look forward to the great honour of returning to the city as Australia’s Foreign Minister.”

Senator Wong joined Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on a diplomatic trip to Indonesia earlier this month. Picture: AAP Image/Pool, Alex Ellinghausen

Senator Wong’s trip comes after her diplomatic visit to Indonesia earlier this month, where she was joined by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and other Labor frontbenchers.

Senator Wong on Saturday said Australia’s future was tied to that of southeast Asia.

“It’s more than geography that binds us – we have genuine links in Vietnam and Malaysia: family, business, education and tourism,” she said.

“My visit seeks to deepen these ties, building on our existing partnerships for the benefit of our countries and the region.”

Senator Wong said the Albanese government wanted to work closely with partners in the region on shared economic opportunities and to strengthen regional security and address climate change.

Originally published as Foreign Minister Penny Wong to depart for next diplomatic overseas trip