British News Agency

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Australia and Singapore have taken new steps to further strengthen one of the region's closest and most trusted partnerships.

Wong said that together with Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles and Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell, she welcomed Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Singapore's Coordinating Minister for Public Services and Minister for Defence, and Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng to the Singapore-Australia Joint Ministerial Committee meeting held in Adelaide.

Wong announced that an agreement was signed during the meeting to ensure the uninterrupted flow of essential goods and fuel, adding that the two countries also agreed to further deepen defence cooperation.

Penny Wong stressed that strong partnerships are more important than ever in an increasingly uncertain international environment, noting that the strategic cooperation between Australia and Singapore will continue to contribute to regional stability and security.