Australian foreign minister likely to join G7 talks in Tokyo next week
This file photo shows Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, right, and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong is considering joining talks between her counterparts of the Group of Seven countries in Tokyo next week, diplomatic sources said Saturday.
Wong is hoping to take part in the final day of the G7 foreign ministers’ two-day meeting from Tuesday and brief them about the outcome of the summit between Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Chinese President Xi Jinping expected Monday, the sources said.
Wong is accompanying Albanese, who became the first Australian prime minister to visit China in around seven years, in a sign of improving relationship between the two countries following diplomatic and trade tensions.
During her stay in Tokyo, Wong may also hold talks with her Japanese counterpart Yoko Kamikawa, the sources said.
Wong planned a visit to Japan in late October for the “two-plus-two” bilateral security talks also involving the two countries’ defense ministers but the trip was put off due to the escalating conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Japan, which holds this year’s G7 presidency, seeks to deepen ties with Australia with the two being part of a four-way framework known as the Quad, also grouping the United States and India, aimed at strengthening cooperation in economy and other fields amid China’s rising clout.
