Foreign Minister Penny Wong has completed a diplomatic visit to Japan, China and South Korea this week, focusing on regional cooperation, energy security and the stability of global supply chains amid ongoing geopolitical tensions affecting energy markets.
The visit, conducted from late April to 1 May 2026, included high-level talks with counterparts in Tokyo, Beijing and Seoul, with discussions centred on maintaining open trade, managing economic uncertainty and strengthening cooperation across the Indo-Pacific.
In Japan, Foreign Minister Penny Wong held talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu and senior officials in Tokyo, focusing on regional security, energy cooperation and Indo-Pacific stability. Discussions were held on regional security and economic resilience, with emphasis on energy cooperation and the importance of stable trade flows in key commodities. Japan is one of Australia’s major economic partners and a significant stakeholder in regional energy stability.
Minister Wong then headed to China where she held discussions with senior Chinese leadership, including a meeting with the Vice President of China Han Zheng, as part of broader bilateral and regional engagements.
She also held the 8th Australia–China Foreign and Strategic Dialogue in Beijing along with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, where both sides discussed bilateral, regional and international issues. The discussions underscored that sustained dialogue between the two countries enables progress across the full range of shared interests while also allowing differences to be managed constructively.
The final leg of the visit took place in South Korea, where Australia and the Republic of Korea issued a joint statement on energy resource security. In Seoul, Minister Wong held discussions with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, focusing on energy resource security, trade resilience and broader Indo-Pacific cooperation.
The statement reaffirmed both countries’ Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and highlighted shared concerns over disruptions in global energy markets, including the impact of Middle East instability on supply chains and commodity flows.
Both countries emphasised that their long-standing energy and economic partnership is built on open markets and rules-based trade. Cooperation is supported through the Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement (KAFTA) and the Green Economy Partnership Arrangement on Climate and Energy (GEPACE).
Australia is South Korea’s largest supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and a key supplier of condensate and critical minerals, while South Korea is Australia’s largest supplier of diesel and an important source of refined petroleum products.
During the Seoul talks, both sides committed to strengthening energy supply chain resilience, supporting open trade in energy commodities, and improving coordination on potential disruptions. They also highlighted the importance of regional energy security, particularly for Pacific island countries that are vulnerable to fuel supply shocks.
Minister Wong said during the visit that Australia and South Korea rely on each other for energy security, noting the importance of diesel and LNG trade in supporting economic stability and reliable energy flows in the region.
The visit reflects Australia’s ongoing diplomatic engagement with key Indo-Pacific partners as governments seek to manage global energy uncertainty and reinforce supply chain resilience.
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