The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles, and Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong will today welcome Indonesian Foreign Minister His Excellency Sugiono, and Defence Minister His Excellency Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin to Canberra for the Ninth Australia-Indonesia 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministers' Meeting.
Australia and Indonesia are the closest of partners, with a long history of friendship and cooperation based on mutual strategic trust. The meeting will strengthen our engagement on shared defence, strategic, economic and development priorities in support of a region that is peaceful, stable and prosperous.
The Deputy Prime Minister will also host Minister Sjafrie for the annual Australia-Indonesia Defence Ministers' Meeting. Discussions will focus on deepening defence cooperation through increased education and training exchanges, more complex joint exercises and enhanced interoperability.
This year's 2+2 follows Foreign Minister Wong's visit to Jakarta earlier this month to meet Foreign Minister Sugiono for discussions on our shared bilateral and regional priorities.
Quotes attributable to Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Richard Marles MP:
"Our relationship with Indonesia continues to go from strength to strength, buoyed by growing strategic trust and a shared commitment to transparency and regional stability.
"Australia is deepening ties and increasing the complexity of our engagement with our closest regional partners, especially Indonesia, in response to an increasingly challenging and uncertain security environment."
Quotes attributable to Foreign Minister, Senator the Hon Penny Wong:
"There is no more important partner for Australia than Indonesia. We look forward to discussing our strategic, economic and development cooperation priorities as we work to shape our region for the better.
"Australia remains a reliable, steadfast friend and partner to Indonesia and to the region at a time of global uncertainty."
