Australian foreign minister to visit United Arab Emirates, Germany, Poland, France, Czech republic and Laos

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

I will visit the United Arab Emirates, Germany, Poland, France, the Czech Republic and Laos to discuss international security and advance cooperation with European and other close partners in response to shared strategic challenges, including in the Indo-Pacific and the Euro-Atlantic.

My visit will underscore Australia’s leadership on international arms-control, non-proliferation, and disarmament as a fundamental pillar of the Government’s approach to international security challenges.

In the United Arab Emirates, I will meet senior government figures to further Australia’s interests in security, trade, law enforcement and consular matters.

I will participate in the Munich Security Conference, Europe’s leading international security policy forum. Australia is deeply committed to working with our European partners to advance global security and support the international rules-based order. I will also mark the 70th anniversary of bilateral relations between Australia and Germany.

In Warsaw I will discuss regional security concerns with senior Polish officials and participate in celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and Poland.

I will join European Union (EU) and Indo-Pacific foreign ministers at the EU Ministerial Forum for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, hosted in Paris by the EU and France in its current role of EU Council President.

Australia will discuss with our EU partners our vision for an open, inclusive and rules-based world order in which sovereignty is respected, rights are protected and disputes are resolved through dialogue rather than conflict.

France is an important global actor and resident power in the Indo-Pacific. I look forward to discussing how Australia and the EU can work together to deepen practical cooperation with Indo-Pacific partners on regional security and connectivity issues.

At the invitation of the newly-elected Czech Republic Government, I will visit Prague to meet with senior officials to advance bilateral cooperation, including during the Czech Republic’s Presidency of the EU Council later this year.

In Vientiane, I will celebrate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and Laos and discuss ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation.

I will also discuss our close cooperation with Laos as Australia’s ASEAN Country Coordinator, including on ways we can take forward the new ASEAN-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and respond to regional challenges.

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