The Hon Julie Bishop will visit Thailand and the Philippines from 2 to 8 August to strengthen bilateral relations and advance Australia’s economic and security interests in the region.
Thailand is Australia’s eighth largest trading partner and this year celebrates the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations. In Bangkok, Bishop will meet Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai, as well as other senior ministers and political leaders to discuss strengthening our engagement on political, economic and security issues.
Bishop will formally open Australia’s new embassy in Bangkok, one of the largest posts in our diplomatic network, and Australia’s Consulate-General in Phuket which was established as part of the single largest diplomatic network expansion in more than 40 years. Each year approximately 900,000 Australians travel to Thailand, with one third of those visiting Phuket.
This will be Bishop’s second visit to the Philippines this year.
The EAS and ASEAN meetings will focus on key regional challenges, including the South China Sea, the Korean Peninsula and terrorism.