Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Again I thank Senator Scarr. There have been constraints imposed on us by the COVID-19 pandemic, but we have of course continued our strong political engagement and dialogue with our partners in the region. As well as the Prime Minister's recent virtual attendance at the ASEAN-Australia summit this month, and also the East Asia Summit, the government, under the leadership of the trade minister, Minister Birmingham, has signed the Regional Comprehensive Partnership Agreement with 14 Indo-Pacific countries. I've met together with all of my ASEAN counterparts four times since June, including a special ASEAN-Australia foreign ministers meeting on 30 June to discuss our shared COVID-19 response, as well as of course the annual East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting and the ASEAN related meetings, both in September.

Notwithstanding limited travel this year, I visited Singapore in October, affirming the strength of our relationship; and Brunei in February. Our continued engagement across government demonstrates our strong commitment to this region.