Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met with regional leaders this week, attending the Annual ASEAN-Australia Summit and the East Asia Summit in Vientiane, capital of Laos.
The meetings were crucial for promoting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and enhancing Australia’s trade relationships.
Albanese’s visit comes as Australia and ASEAN mark 50 years of diplomatic ties. During the ASEAN-Australia Summit, the Prime Minister reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to ASEAN centrality, highlighting Southeast Asia’s economic prosperity as vital to Australia’s growth. He pointed to the progress made since the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Melbourne earlier this year.
“Maintaining peace and stability takes work, and Australia will keep working with our partners towards a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region,” Albanese said in a statement.
In meetings on the sidelines, Albanese met with leaders from China, Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Canada, and New Zealand. He also participated in a session of the East Asia Summit, where he stressed that a strong ASEAN helps prevent conflict and reinforces international law.
Albanese’s schedule also included a meeting of the Asia Zero Emission Community, hosted by Japan’s Prime Minister Ishiba. Leaders discussed the need for regional cooperation to accelerate decarbonisation and secure energy supplies through the transition to net zero. Albanese provided an update on Australia’s efforts to reach its climate targets.
On Tuesday, the Prime Minister hosted a business event alongside Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chính and Australian Special Envoy for Southeast Asia, Nicholas Moore. The event focused on Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040, with Albanese highlighting the progress made over the past year. Australian delegates at the event also took part in an investment mission to Laos and Thailand, further strengthening business ties.
During his visit, Albanese announced Australia would provide an additional $4.5 million to Monash University’s World Mosquito Program to support Laos in eliminating dengue fever. He praised Laos for its role as ASEAN Chair in 2024 and wished Malaysia success as it takes over in 2025.
“We have delivered on 47 recommendations from our Southeast Asia Economic Strategy in the last year, and we will continue working to ensure the prosperity of both Australia and the region,” Albanese added.
The meetings mark an important step in Australia’s continued engagement with Southeast Asia as the region faces increasing geopolitical challenges.
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