KUALA LUMPUR: Close ties between people are key to lasting international friendships, said Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, reflecting on the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
In a short video posted on Instagram, Wong highlighted shared history and regional cooperation as the foundation of strong Australia-Malaysia relations.
The clip features scenes from her childhood in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, and her recent appearance at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Kuala Lumpur.
Wong, born in Malaysia and raised in Australia, said her personal journey reflects the multicultural fabric of modern Australia – where nearly half the population is either foreign-born or has at least one parent born abroad.
“This helps us find common ground across Southeast Asia,” she said, adding that people-to-people bonds remain the heart of Australia’s regional engagement. – BERNAMA
