Foreign minister to make working visits to Australia, Singapore, Indonesia and South Korea

RIGA - Foreign Minister Baiba Braze (New Unity) will make a round of working visits to Australia, Singapore, Indonesia and South Korea from September 2 to 10.

As LETA was told at the Foreign Ministry, given the rapidly growing role of the Indo-Pacific region in the global economy and the geopolitical situation of the moment, the presence of Latvia and an active dialogue with the countries of the region is a priority.

In Australia, Braze is scheduled to meet with Foreign Minister Penny Wong for a discussion on bilateral cooperation, political dialogue, economic cooperation, as well as security policy in Europe and the Indo-Pacific region. The Latvian minister will also meet the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga, Fatafehi Fakafanua.

Braze will take part in The Sydney Dialogue conference, with cyber technologies in the focus of discussion. In Sidney, the Latvian minister is also expected to meet with members of the Latvian diaspora in Australia.

Braze will engage in a round table discussion with members of the New South Wales Business Chamber and meet students from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.

On September 4 in Singapore, Braze will meet with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Singapore, Vivian Balakrishnan, and the Minister for Defense, Ng Eng Hen. The officials will discuss bilateral relations, latest developments related to security and foreign policy in Europe and Indo-Pacific, as well as cooperation in the United Nations and as part of dialogue between the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The Latvian minister will also meet with the Head of the EU Delegation to Singapore, Iwona Piorko.

On September 5 and 6, Braze is scheduled to meet with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Lestari Priansari Marsudi. Focus of the meeting will be on bilateral relations, security and foreign policy highlights in Europe and Indo-Pacifi, and cooperation in the UN and as part of the EU–ASEAN dialogue. The Latvian minister will meet the Head of the EU Delegation to Indonesia, Denis Chaibi and discuss the priorities of Latvia’s foreign policy and regional developments with students of the University of Indonesia. A meeting with partners of Latvian businesses in Indonesia is also planned during Braze's visit.

From September 7 to 10 , the foreign minister will be visiting South Koea to meet with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Korea, Cho Tae-yul, participate in a conference co-organised by South Korea and the Netherlands on Responsible AI in the Military Domain (REAIM), and meet with former UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon.

Braze will have a discussion with Latvian businesses on their experience of entering and operating in the South Korean market. Practical matters will be discussed concerning potential support from the Foreign Service to companies by using instruments at the Foreign Service's disposal, the Foreign Ministry informed.