COVID-19 vaccine options will be high on the discussion list when Australia's foreign minister travels to Japan for top-level meetings this week.
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Marise Payne will fly to Tokyo to meet with counterparts from the US, India and Japan, for the second meeting of foreign ministers of the 'Quad' alliance.
The coronavirus pandemic will dominate discussions, with region-wide responses to the health and economic issues posed by COVID-19, vaccines for the virus and supply chains to be discussed.
Ms Payne will also meet with Japan's minister for gender equality and the Olympics, Seiko Hashimoto, to talk about women's economic empowerment and sport.
The foreign minister has declared her trip a timely one.
"The Quad meeting comes at an important time in the Indo-Pacific, when our shared interests are under unprecedented pressure, including as the region responds to COVID-19," Ms Payne said in a statement issued on Saturday.
"We are committed to working together, and with all countries in the region, to chart a road to recovery in a way that helps all countries reinforce their sovereignty and resilience."
Australian Associated Press
