US-AU Talks Never Been More Important: Marise Payne, Linda Reynolds

US Secretary of Defence Mark Esper (L) and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (2nd L) attend a joint news conference with Australia's Foreign Minister Marise Payne (2nd R)and Australia's Defence Minister Linda Reynolds in Sydney on August 4, 2019. SAEED KHAN/Getty Images

Australia’s foreign and defence ministers say upcoming talks with their US counterparts are more important that ever, with China’s actions undermining security and freedoms in the region.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Defence Minister Linda Reynolds are flying to Washington DC on July 26 for the annual AUSMIN talks with their Trump administration counterparts.