Seoul: Foreign Minister Cho Hyun held telephone talks with his Australian counterpart, Penny Wong, on Monday to discuss bilateral relations, the foreign ministry said, marking their first phone conversation since Cho took office.

According to Yonhap News Agency, during the call, Cho emphasized that the summit between President Lee Jae Myung and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in June has contributed to further deepening the ties between the two countries. Cho also conveyed his appreciation for the warm hospitality extended by Australia during last week's visit by a special delegation from Seoul. He advocated for continued high-level exchanges and enhanced multidimensional cooperation between the two nations.

The special envoys, led by former National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo, delivered President Lee's message during their meetings with Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles and Penny Wong. In response, Wong reaffirmed that South Korea is one of Australia's key partners and expressed her hope to meet with Cho in person at the earliest opportunity to maintain close communication and strengthen strategic collaboration.