ASIA
26 November 2025
“We Are Architects”, Senator the Hon Penny Wong
Australia has strengthened major regional relationships, positioning itself as an active architect of Indo-Pacific stability, according to Hon Penny Wong, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs.
What follows are some extracts from the speech by the Hon Penny Wong, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, to the 17 November 2025 Gala Dinner of Australian Institute of International Affairs.
– Australia has strengthened major regional relationships through new treaties, upgraded partnerships and deeper engagement, positioning itself as an active architect of Indo-Pacific stability.
– in a permanently contested strategic environment, Australia must continue building common ground with its neighbours by listening, investing and working collectively to advance shared security and prosperity.
– From our first day in office, when the Prime Minister and I flew to Japan to meet with the Quad, from my first trip to the Pacific Islands Forum and the Prime Minister’s first bilateral visit to Indonesia, the region has been our focus.
– We are architects. And for the past three and a half years we have been building Australia’s future in our region.
– Every relationship Australia has in this region has been strengthened under our Government.
– Because we have agreed groundbreaking treaties with four countries, upgraded or enhanced partnerships with six and made progress on agreements with another four.
– We have concluded negotiations on our new treaty with Indonesia.
– We have the Pukpuk Treaty with Papua New Guinea, transforming our nearest neighbour to our newest ally.
– We have the Nauru-Australia Treaty and the landmark Falepili Union with Tuvalu.
– We have progress towards new agreements with Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu.
– We have stabilised relations with China, without compromising on our interests.
– And we have upgraded our relationships with Japan, Vietnam, Philippines, Laos and Brunei, enhanced our relationship with Singapore and agreed to strengthen our arrangements with India.
– But that doesn’t mean that our strategic environment is getting any easier. The change in the regional landscape is permanent. The disruption – the contest– is permanent.
– China will continue trying to reshape the region according to its own interests.
– Russia, Iran and North Korea will continue to sabotage and destabilise.
– Regionalism is one of the most effective ways for smaller and medium countries to counter power asymmetries.
– We see this every day in the power and weight that ASEAN and the PIF carry when they speak with one voice.
– we have supported $1.2 billion in new Australian investment through our Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040.
- we launched an A New Economic Roadmap for India, with a new Trade and Investment Accelerator Fund to help unlock new commercial opportunities, while continuing to negotiate an upgraded economic agreement.
– Our new $2 billion Southeast Asia Infrastructure Financing Facility is kickstarting Australian investments, including to create immediate exposure for 15 Australian super funds and supporting key projects in renewable energy, telecommunications and infrastructure.
– We are bringing together Timor-Leste, the Northern Territory Government and indigenous land holders to help Timor improve access to power in remote communities.
– And in similar ways in the Pacific, we are listening, consulting and responding to Pacific priorities in the Pacific way – Australia is intent on being a good neighbour and one that deals with partners with respect.
– Being a part of the solution on climate change is also central to our credibility in the Pacific – through our strong domestic commitments, rejoining the Green Climate Fund and investing in the Pacific Resilience Facility.
– All our Pacific engagement prioritises Pacific leadership.
– That is how we have backed the Pacific Policing Initiative and established the Pacific Response Group, complementing other arrangements like Australia’s Status of Forces Agreement with Fiji and enhanced maritime security cooperation.
– Australia is committed to remaining a reliable partner to the Pacific and our region, despite the global reduction in development assistance.
– Australia has sought to redefine our relationships with our region. Listening, not imposing. Consulting, not controlling.
– Australia has strengthened major regional relationships through new treaties, upgraded partnerships and deeper engagement, positioning itself as an active architect of Indo-Pacific stability.
– in a permanently contested strategic environment, Australia must continue building common ground with its neighbours by listening, investing and working collectively to advance shared security and prosperity.
– From our first day in office, when the Prime Minister and I flew to Japan to meet with the Quad, from my first trip to the Pacific Islands Forum and the Prime Minister’s first bilateral visit to Indonesia, the region has been our focus.
– We are architects. And for the past three and a half years we have been building Australia’s future in our region.
– Every relationship Australia has in this region has been strengthened under our Government.
– Because we have agreed groundbreaking treaties with four countries, upgraded or enhanced partnerships with six and made progress on agreements with another four.
– We have concluded negotiations on our new treaty with Indonesia.
– We have the Pukpuk Treaty with Papua New Guinea, transforming our nearest neighbour to our newest ally.
– We have the Nauru-Australia Treaty and the landmark Falepili Union with Tuvalu.
– We have progress towards new agreements with Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu.
– We have stabilised relations with China, without compromising on our interests.
– And we have upgraded our relationships with Japan, Vietnam, Philippines, Laos and Brunei, enhanced our relationship with Singapore and agreed to strengthen our arrangements with India.
– But that doesn’t mean that our strategic environment is getting any easier. The change in the regional landscape is permanent. The disruption – the contest– is permanent.
– China will continue trying to reshape the region according to its own interests.
– Russia, Iran and North Korea will continue to sabotage and destabilise.
– Regionalism is one of the most effective ways for smaller and medium countries to counter power asymmetries.
– We see this every day in the power and weight that ASEAN and the PIF carry when they speak with one voice.
– we have supported $1.2 billion in new Australian investment through our Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040.
- we launched an A New Economic Roadmap for India, with a new Trade and Investment Accelerator Fund to help unlock new commercial opportunities, while continuing to negotiate an upgraded economic agreement.
– Our new $2 billion Southeast Asia Infrastructure Financing Facility is kickstarting Australian investments, including to create immediate exposure for 15 Australian super funds and supporting key projects in renewable energy, telecommunications and infrastructure.
– We are bringing together Timor-Leste, the Northern Territory Government and indigenous land holders to help Timor improve access to power in remote communities.
– And in similar ways in the Pacific, we are listening, consulting and responding to Pacific priorities in the Pacific way – Australia is intent on being a good neighbour and one that deals with partners with respect.
– Being a part of the solution on climate change is also central to our credibility in the Pacific – through our strong domestic commitments, rejoining the Green Climate Fund and investing in the Pacific Resilience Facility.
– All our Pacific engagement prioritises Pacific leadership.
– That is how we have backed the Pacific Policing Initiative and established the Pacific Response Group, complementing other arrangements like Australia’s Status of Forces Agreement with Fiji and enhanced maritime security cooperation.
– Australia is committed to remaining a reliable partner to the Pacific and our region, despite the global reduction in development assistance.
– Australia has sought to redefine our relationships with our region. Listening, not imposing. Consulting, not controlling.