16 Mar 2018
16-Mar-2018
Source: ASEAN Secretariat News
Prime Minister Turnbull reaffirms partnership with ASEAN
SYDNEY, 16 March 2018 – Secretary-General of ASEAN Dato Lim Jock Hoi called on Prime Minister of Australia, Malcolm Turnbull at the sidelines of the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit that will take place on 17 and 18 March.
Prime Minister Turnbull congratulated Dato Lim on his appointment as Secretary-General of ASEAN and underscored the significance of the Summit to reaffirm ASEAN-Australia’s strategic partnership and to advance relations to a new level. He highlighted the importance of strengthening people-to-people linkages between ASEAN and Australia particularly through education and youth exchanges.
SG Dato Lim expressed appreciation to Australia for their strong support and assistance to ASEAN Community building and integration efforts, including to the ASEAN Secretariat, particularly through the ASEAN-Australia Development Cooperation Program Phase II and the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement Economic Cooperation Support Program.
Both sides also discussed areas of common interests and looked forward to future collaboration through the new initiatives arising from the Special Summit including in the area of counter-terrorism. ASEAN and Australia will sign a memorandum of understanding on cooperation to counter international terrorism at the conclusion of the Counter-Terrorism Conference on 17 March 2018.
Secretary-General of ASEAN also attended the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Conference as part of the ASEAN-Australia Business Summit.