ASEANEWS-ASIA GEO POLITICS | ASEAN-Australia Special Summit
.
PM to make official visit to Australia, attend ASEAN-Australia Special Summit
.
Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone
.
Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone is scheduled to make an official visit to Australia and attend the Special Summit between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Australia on March 4-7.
The visit, which is in response to an invitation from his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese, aims to strengthen the longstanding friendly relations and cooperation between Laos and Australia, the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press statement.
The leader of Laos – as the chair of ASEAN for 2024 and coordinating country for ASEAN and Australia relations – and PM Albanese will co-chair the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit scheduled to take place on March 5-6 in Melbourne to mark 50 years of ASEAN-Australia dialogue partnership.
Memento Maxima Digital MarketingThis is the second time that Australia will host the leaders of the ASEAN Member States, and this year they will be joined by the leader of Timor-Leste, an ASEAN observer country.
At the summit, leaders will review relations and cooperation between both sides over the past five decades and outline future directions for cooperation, the Lao ministry said.
The Australian government said, on its website, that Australia’s partnership with the 10-member bloc is central to its engagement with the diverse and vibrant Southeast Asia region.
“ASEAN provides the fabric that binds our shared region together – Australia is a steadfast supporter of ASEAN centrality and the regional architecture it leads,” the Australian government said.
In 2021, ASEAN and Australia elevated their relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP). Since then both sides have worked together on giving effect to the partnership, agreeing shared priorities, increasing resources, and advancing new programmes.
“Australia recognises that our prosperity, security and economic future are intimately linked to Southeast Asia,” the website stated.
ASEAN is Australia’s second largest trading partner, representing around 15 percent of Australia’s total trade. In 2022, Australian trade with ASEAN member countries reached AUD178 billion (almost US$116 billion) and two-way investment with ASEAN touched AUD248.7 billion (almost US$162 billion).
“The region offers increasing opportunities, with deepening regional integration through Free Trade Agreements and stronger ties seeing significant prospects for businesses in Australia and Southeast Asia,” said the government of Australia, which collaborates closely and supports practical implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).
The special summit will provide an opportunity to enhance cooperation under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The leaders will look ahead to the next 50 years of ASEAN-Australia cooperation.
Events during the summit will focus on key sectors and themes of Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040, including a particular focus on greater trade and investment between Australia and Southeast Asia and their collective green energy transition.
Activities during the events include a CEO Business Forum, a Small and Medium Enterprise Conference, a Climate and Clean Energy Forum, and the Blue Economy and maritime security issues.
In a regular interaction, ASEAN and Australian leaders meet annually at the ASEAN-Australia Leaders’ Summit to discuss ways to deepen cooperation.
@[email protected]
By Souksakhone Vaenkeo
(Latest Update February 29, 2024)
