2024 ASEAN-AUSTRALIA SPECIAL SUMMIT KICKS OFF TODAY, CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF PARTNERSHIP

From Sharifah Hunaini Syed Ismail

MELBOURNE, March 4 (Bernama) -- The 2024 ASEAN-Australia Special Summit is commencing today, bringing together Southeast Asian (SEA) and Australian leaders, business and community leaders, experts and academics to discuss key focus areas such as business; emerging leaders; climate and clean energy; and maritime cooperation. 

The three-day summit, held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), also marks the 50th anniversary of Australia's dialogue partnership with ASEAN.

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Australia became ASEAN's first Dialogue Partner in 1974, a formal status conferred to countries to deepen relations, and a Comprehensive Strategic Partner of ASEAN in 2021. 

This is the second time Australia is hosting leaders of ASEAN member states after the first special summit held in March 2018, and Timor-Leste will also join the summit this year.

According to Australia’s Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet website, leaders will discuss bolstering ASEAN-Australia cooperation, shared vision for the region’s future and how the bloc can work together to address shared challenges. 

“Discussions will focus on Australia’s SEA Economic Strategy to 2040, a blueprint for stepping up Australia’s economic links with the region, launched by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in September last year.

“There will be a series of meetings and events to discuss ways to boost economic engagement; support an accelerated clean energy transition; increase practical maritime cooperation; and supporting the region’s current crop of emerging leaders," it said.

Prime Minister Albanese will also host official guest of government programmes with SEA leaders, including Malaysia’s Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and Vietnam Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

Albanese will also hold the Australia-Singapore Annual Leaders Meeting with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and have a few bilateral meetings with some of the leaders and with the ASEAN Secretary-General.

In a press release, Albanese said building Australia’s links with ASEAN is a priority for the government.

“Australia sees ASEAN at the centre of a stable, peaceful, and prosperous region, strengthening our relationship ensures our shared future prosperity and security.

“I look forward to welcoming my counterparts to Australia to discuss the shared challenges facing our region, opportunities to enhance our prosperity and how we can build on our strong relationships," he added.

The summit will focus on key sectors and themes of ‘Invested: Australia's SEA Economic Strategy to 2040', including a particular focus on greater trade and investment between Australia and SEA and the countries’ collective green energy transition. 

Other activities include the CEO Business Forum which will bring together Australian and SEA business leaders, industry stakeholders and government agencies to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral trade and investment, and an SME Conference featuring trade and investment experts to provide advice to Australian SMEs interested in doing business with SEA.

Meanwhile, the next generation of Australian and ASEAN leaders will participate in the Emerging Leaders’ Dialogue, which will seek to foster a common understanding of key long-term challenges that ASEAN and Australia jointly face and identify areas for further cooperation.

A Climate and Clean Energy Forum will bring together ASEAN and Australian representatives from governments, academia, think tanks, civil society and the private sector to promote the exchange of ideas and consider opportunities to further the energy transition across the region.

Additionally, the Blue Economy and maritime security issues will be covered during the Maritime Cooperation Conference.

-- BERNAMA