Debtset – Bailiff-Sheriff Aust MEMBER Login
ASEAN leader talks co-operative futures with Australia
THE FIRST official visit to Australia by the Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Le Luong Minh, took place last week.
Highlighting the geographical and strategic position of Australia, Secretary-General Minh encouraged Australia to play a greater role in contributing to ASEAN-led mechanisms for the maintenance of peace, security and stability. He further encouraged both sides to forge cooperation in other potential areas such as governance, forestry, public health, arts and cultures, sports, SMEs, infrastructure development and vocational training.
Secretary-General Minh also conveyed that the ASEAN Secretariat would stand ready to effectively coordinate with ASEAN member states in co-operating with Australia in these joint endeavours.
Secretary-General Minh thanked Australia for its active and steadfast support for ASEAN’s regional integration and community building efforts over the past years, and called upon Australia to further extend and align its support to ASEAN’s Post-2015 agenda, which is currently being developed.
As part of his programme in Sydney, Secretary-General Minh met with the chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission as well as ASEAN and Australian students at the University of Sydney. In Canberra, he gave an address at the College of Asia and the Pacific of the Australian National University.
ASEAN and Australia will convene a Commemorative Summit later this year in Myanmar to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of ASEAN-Australia Dialogue Relations.
“Secretary General Minh’s visit provided an opportunity to discuss challenges facing the region, including maritime security and disaster management,” said Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.
“ASEAN plays a key role in regional security-focused engagement, in particular through the leaders-level East Asia Summit and the ASEAN Regional Forum.
“South East Asia is vital for Australia’s strategic and economic interests. Australia is working in partnership with the ASEAN Secretariat, headed by Secretary General Minh, to support integration efforts between ASEAN countries including through the ASEAN-Australia Development Cooperation Program.”
Secretary General Minh’s visit coincided with the 40th anniversary of Australia’s formal dialogue partnership with ASEAN, which began with an officials meeting in Canberra on April 16, 1974, and Australia was ASEAN’s first dialogue partner.
The 10 member countries of ASEAN represent a population of more than 600 million people and a combined economy of $2.4 trillion. Australia’s two-way trade with ASEAN has more than doubled in the past decade to $92 billion in 2012-13.
Ms Bishop said ASEAN’s importance to Australian interests would grow as it sought to deepen economic, political-security and socio-cultural integration through an ASEAN Community by 2015.
“Australia and ASEAN are also working together to implement the 2010 ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement and negotiate the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership which are key drivers of regional economic integration,” Ms Bishop said.
ends
