Penny Wong shores up regional ties

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has flown to Southeast Asia to deepen trade ties with Vietnam and Malaysia.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong shakes hands with her Vietnamese counterpart, Bui Thanh Son, in Hanoi. Picture: AFP

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has flown to Southeast Asia to deepen trade ties with Vietnam and Malaysia, as well as discussing climate change and the Covid-19 recovery.

While Anthony Albanese travelled to Spain for a NATO summit, Senator Wong made her second visit to Southeast Asia and touched down in Hanoi on Sunday night, where she was met by Australia’s ambassador to Vietnam, Robyn Mudie.

Senator Wong, who was born in Malaysia, visited the Vietnam-Australia Centre on Monday.

The Hanoi-based centre, which was launched last week, aims to help Vietnam access Australia’s knowledge, skills and ­experience in training and scientific research.

“The ties between our countries run deep,” Senator Wong said in a video posted to social media. “So many Australians have family (and) friends in this region in Vietnam particularly, and we want to make sure we deepen this relationship.

“Most importantly, we know that our futures are shared because we share this region. It’s so important for me to come here, to do the work, to listen, because our futures are tied together.”

Senator Wong met with Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son to discuss “climate change co-operation, our shared trade and investment goals and Australia’s continued support for Vietnam’s Covid-19 recovery”.

She will travel to Malaysia and meet with Foreign Affairs Minister Dato’ Sri Saifuddin bin Abdullah, Defence Minister Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and International Trade and Industry Minister, Dato’ Seri Azmin Ali.

“I will reaffirm our commitment and discuss economic recovery, climate action, education ties and health security,” she said.