JAKARTA, 11 April 2022 – ASEAN and Australia reaffirmed commitment to further strengthen their cooperation following the establishment of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) last year, at the 12th ASEAN-Australia Joint Cooperation Committee Meeting held via videoconference on 8 April.
ASEAN and Australia looked forward to the effective implementation of the initiatives announced at the first ASEAN-Australia Summit in 2021, during which the establishment of the CSP was announced.
The meeting reviewed the implementation of the ASEAN-Australia Plan of Action (2020-2024) and noted that all action lines in the Plan of Action are currently being addressed or planned to be addressed soon.
ASEAN Member States also expressed their appreciation to Australia for its unwavering support for ASEAN Community building efforts, assistance towards the region’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, and commitment to ASEAN Centrality through its active participation in ASEAN-led mechanisms.
Both sides highlighted the importance of enhancing cooperation in the four key areas outlined in the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, as well as other areas such as; counter terrorism and violent extremism; maritime cooperation; Women, Peace and Security agenda; trade, investment, and digital economy; Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs); people-to-people initiatives; addressing climate change; public health and mental health; education; Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), sustainable development infrastructure and connectivity; cybersecurity; smart cities; and support for the Initiative for ASEAN Integration.
In addition, the meeting took note of Australia’s briefing on the Australia for ASEAN Future Initiatives and the successor programme to the ASEAN-Australia Development Cooperation Program Phase II.
The meeting welcomed the entry into force of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement in January this year and looked forward to the implementation of the Agreement. ASEAN and Australia also looked forward to the conclusion on the negotiations to upgrade the Agreement Establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA).
Bovonethat Douangcak, Permanent Representative of Lao PDR to ASEAN, and Will Nankervis, Ambassador of Australia to ASEAN, co-chaired the meeting that was also attended by the Permanent Representatives of ASEAN Member States to ASEAN and the Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Political-Security Community.
