Media Release
FA136 - 25 September 2002
Visit to Burma, Indonesia and Malaysia
I will visit Burma, Indonesia and Malaysia from 2 to 8 October.
My visit to Burma from 2 to 3 October will enable me to obtain a
first-hand impression of the current situation, including the humanitarian
situation, and to register Australia's support for political reconciliation
and greater respect for human rights.
I will hold talks with Burmese Government representatives and with
the General Secretary of the National League for Democracy, Aung San
Suu Kyi. I will also meet with representatives of United Nations
agencies and a number of international non-government bodies active
in Burma.
I was encouraged to visit Burma by the UN Secretary General's Special
Envoy to Burma, Tan Sri Razali Ismail, when we met in Canberra last
month. Australia has been a strong supporter of Tan Sri Razali, who
has played a key role in promoting political reconciliation in Burma,
including in the release of Aung San Suu Kyi in May this year.
I hope that my visit can reinforce the Special Envoy's efforts.
Following this, my transit through Bangkok will enable me to meet
with senior members of the Thai Government and business representatives..
In Indonesia on 4-5 October, I will attend the inaugural South West
Pacific Dialogue Ministerial Meeting to be hosted by the Indonesian
Government in Yogyakarta.
The South West Pacific Dialogue groups together Australia, Indonesia,
East Timor, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand. The
meeting will facilitate engagement on issues of mutual interest to
this sub-region and add value to Australia's relationships with some
of our nearest neighbours. East Timor's participation in the Dialogue
will also further the new nation's integration with the region, a
process Australia is committed to supporting.
On 6-8 October, I will attend the World Economic Forum's East Asia
Economic Summit in Kuala Lumpur. The annual Summit brings together
senior political and business leaders to discuss vital economic, political,
social and strategic issues shaping the growth and direction of our
region. The Summit's theme is Renewing Asia's Foundations of Growth:
Building on Diversity.
I will speak at a Summit plenary session on Managing Asia's Security
Threats and I have also been invited to be Summit Rapporteur on
Regional Relations, a core theme of the meeting.
Media inquiries: Chris Kenny (Ministerial) +61 02 6277 7500 / Julie
McDonald (Departmental) +61 02 6261 1555
Local Date: Tuesday, 22-May-2012 07:05:22 EST
