Jakarta. Foreign Minister Sugiono is scheduled to visit Australia and New Zealand next week as Indonesia seeks to strengthen bilateral partnerships with its two neighbors in the Pacific region.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Yvonne Mewengkang said on Thursday that Sugiono will begin his trip in Melbourne on Aug. 26 to attend the 10th Indonesia-Australia Foreign and Defense Ministers’ “2+2” Meeting.

“The 2+2 Meeting is an important forum for Indonesia and Australia to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral relations and address various strategic issues, particularly defense and security matters of mutual concern,” Yvonne told a press conference in Jakarta.

Key issues on the Melbourne agenda will include the implementation of a bilateral security treaty, stronger defense cooperation, conflict prevention, and maritime security.

Beyond security, the two countries will also discuss economic resilience and the reliability of regional supply chains.

Sugiono will then travel to Auckland on Aug. 28 to attend the Indonesia-New Zealand Joint Ministerial Commission.

At the meeting, the two countries will review developments in bilateral relations and explore new areas of cooperation as they approach the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties.

Australia is one of Indonesia’s key strategic partners to the south, with defense ties continuing to deepen through the Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) and various joint military exercises.

New Zealand, meanwhile, is an important Indonesian trading partner in the South Pacific, particularly in food, livestock, renewable energy, and education.

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