I will visit Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam and Indonesia over the next week to advance our relationships with key partners, including to strengthen our shared work to promote the region’s economic and health recovery from COVID-19.
The visits follow last month’s historic leader-level agreement to establish a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between ASEAN and Australia, which underscores Australia’s commitment to ASEAN’s central role in the Indo-Pacific.
In Malaysia, I will co-chair the Annual Foreign Minister’s Meeting, which is the first since the bilateral relationship was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in January 2021. I will also meet with Malaysian Government leaders to discuss equitable vaccine access, cooperation on post-COVID economic recovery, health security, gender equality, and climate change challenges.
In Cambodia, I will highlight Australia’s support for the country’s role as the new Chair of ASEAN. I will meet with members of the Cambodian Government to discuss our long-standing engagement on a broad range of issues, including Australia’s support to Cambodia and its nearest neighbours through the A$232 million Mekong-Australia Partnership.
My visit to Vietnam will take place against the backdrop of the Australia-Vietnam Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy, which was launched last week by our countries’ Prime Ministers. I will meet with members of the Vietnamese Government leadership and attend and co-chair the second ASEAN-Australia Women, Peace and Security Dialogue.
Australia and Indonesia continue to work together as close neighbours and Comprehensive Strategic Partners. In Jakarta, I will meet with Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, to reaffirm the strong links between our governments, economies and people, and discuss ways we can continue to build a stable, prosperous and resilient Indo-Pacific region. I will also meet with women leaders across Indonesia’s public and private sectors to exchange views on the opportunities and challenges for women’s leadership.
This visit builds on decades of Australia’s close partnership with Southeast Asia. Alongside our partners, Australia has and will continue to make a positive and proactive contribution to stability and prosperity in Southeast Asia. The 50th anniversary of the Five Power Defence Arrangements is also testament to our longstanding partnerships and our commitment to work together on the evolving challenges in our region.
This program of bilateral meetings and high-level discussions will reinforce Australia’s relationship with the Indo-Pacific region and Australia’s support for ASEAN centrality, which is underscored by strong economic links, security ties, our human relationships and our joint effort to recover from COVID-19.
ASEAN centrality is at the heart of Australia’s vision for the Indo-Pacific.
