Julie Bishop and Retno Marsudi to meet in first formal talks after execution of Bali 9 duo

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and her Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi will be holding their first formal talks on Wednesday, after bilateral relations between the two nations deteriorated following the execution of the Bali 9 duo. The meeting between the foreign ministers of both nations will be held in Malaysia, as a diversion from the East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers' Meeting and the ASEAN Regional Forum.

In April this year, rehabilitated drug smugglers Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan were shot dead by a firing squad despite repeated pleas by the Australian Government to show mercy. Paul Grigson, the then Australian ambassador to Jakarta, withdrew, following the executions, but he returned to Jakarta and has been facing new diplomatic challenges since.

The relationship between the two countries were further strained after Indonesia slashed its number of live cattle imports from Australia. Indonesia was also displeased with Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s linking of the tsunami aids with Australia’s bid for mercy.

Despite the strained relations, Bishop said ahead of her meeting with Marsudi that she stays connected to her Indonesian counterpart, but is looking forward to meeting her in person and discuss the mutual interests of Indonesia and Australia.

During the EAS, Bishop will also table Australia’s concerns over the disputed South China sea. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Australia is not willing to take sides in the conflict that was set off last year as a result of China’s expansion of artificial islands on the disputed waters. But since the conflict poses security threat to Australia, as it conducts 60 percent of its trade through the region, it is a matter of concern for the country as well.

Bishop will also advocate to bring justice to the victims of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH-17 which was allegedly shot down by Russian-backed rebels.

'I will focus on urgent political and national security challenges facing our region, including countering violent extremism and addressing maritime security issues,' she said in a statement.

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