South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Hyun will meet his Australian counterpart Penny Wong in Seoul on Thursday for bilateral talks. The discussions will cover defense cooperation and supply chain stability amid the Middle East crisis and global energy disruptions, South Korea's foreign ministry said Monday.
South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Hyun will meet Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong for bilateral talks in Seoul on Thursday, the foreign ministry said in a press release on Monday.
The two sides are expected to reaffirm commitments to address common challenges from the Middle East situation and the global energy crisis. They will also discuss deepening cooperation in defense and defense industry sectors.
Wong's visit is part of a three-nation Asia tour including Japan and China, aimed at strengthening ties and shared energy security amid Middle East conflict and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupting global energy markets, the Australian Embassy in Seoul said.
"The Republic of Korea is one of Australia's most important sources of refined fuels, including diesel, automotive gasoline and aviation fuel," Wong said. "Australia will continue working with international partners to help secure the supplies we need -- including diesel, petrol and fertilizer -- and ensure Australia is prioritized as a reliable energy partner."
The meeting follows a phone call between the ministers on March 16, about a month ago. Their last in-person talks were on the margins of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Gyeongju last October.
