October 22, 2010 (KATAKAMI / ABC.NET.AU) --- Prime Minister Julia Gillard has announced she will make official visits to Malaysia and Indonesia later this month, after her already-planned attendance at the East Asia Summit in Vietnam.
Ms Gillard has announced she will hold talks with Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak in Kuala Lumpur during an official visit to the country on October 31 and November 1.
She will then travel to Indonesia at the invitation of president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for formal meetings on November 1 and 2.
Both countries are critical to some of the key issues facing Ms Gillard, including counter-terrorism and people smuggling, as well as environmental and trade issues.
The trip to Indonesia follows Mr Yudhoyono's trip to Australia in March this year and a joint commitment that Australian and Indonesian leaders would meet annually.
Ms Gillard will also attend the East Asia summit in Hanoi, including the inaugural ASEAN-Australia leaders summit.
