Australian FM Penny Wong to arrive Dhaka on Tuesday

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong is scheduled to pay an official visit to Bangladesh on Tuesday (May 21) on a two-day visit to Bangladesh.

The Australian Foreign Minister will arrive to strengthen their bilateral relationship with Bangladesh and find ways to boost cooperation for regional peace, prosperity and security, officials said in Dhaka on Sunday.
Issues related to the promotion of trade and investment, sustainable and renewable energy production, the Rohingya crisis, maritime security, technology transfer, and free and open Indo-Pacific region are likely to be discussed during her visit, they said.

Penny Wong is likely to have a courtesy meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina apart from holding a bilateral meeting with her Bangladesh counterpart Hasan Mahmud, a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told UNB.

A delegation including Deputy Secretary, South and Southeast Asia Group and Head of the Office of Southeast Asia, in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Michelle Chan will accompany the Australian foreign minister, he said.

The Australian minister is likely to visit the Rohingya camp during her visit to see the situation there.

Bangladesh seeks Australia's support in keeping the Rohingya issue alive globally with a view to the ultimate repatriation of the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals sheltered in Bangladesh.

Australia commits to continue the humanitarian assistance for the Rohingyas and support Bangladesh in their repatriation effort.

Wong was born in the Malaysian state of Sabah. Her family moved to Australia in 1976, when she was eight years old, and settled in Adelaide.

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