Asean a priority for Australia, says minister

Strengthening ties: Wong speaking to journalists from South-East Asia during an interview in conjunction with the Asean-Australia Special Summit International Media Visit in Canberra, Australia.

CANBERRA: Australia is committed to being a strategic partner of Asean, with an emphasis on stronger and practical collaboration in enhancing connectivity and resilience, says its Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong.

Expressing confidence that it would be “ultimately a matter of Asean” as the bloc considers Australia’s bid to join it, she said her nation is dedicated to Asean centrality.