08 Apr 2021
JAKARTA, 8 April 2021 – ASEAN and Australia reaffirmed their commitment to enhance cooperation under ASEAN-Australia strategic partnership during the 11th ASEAN-Australia Joint Cooperation Committee Meeting held virtually today.
Both sides reviewed the implementation of the ASEAN-Australia Plan of Action (2020-2024) and noted the progress that has been made in the first year of implementation of the Plan of Action despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
The meeting highlighted the importance of multilateral collaboration in COVID-19 response and economic recovery. In this regard, ASEAN welcomed the announcements made by Australia last year to support the region’s response, particularly its contribution to the COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund and commitment to support the establishment of the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases.
In light of the disruption and impact of COVID-19 on the economic sector, ASEAN and Australia looked forward to the upgrade negotiation of the Agreement Establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA) and an early entry into force of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement.
In addition, they identified a number of key areas for enhanced cooperation, including; cybersecurity; counter-terrorism; maritime cooperation; Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda; 4IR; digital and creative economy; people-to-people links; education; Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), sustainable development; health and zoonotic diseases: disaster management; connectivity and smart citie
Furthermore, they commended the important role of the ASEAN-Australia Development Cooperation Program Phase II (AADCP II) as the flagship initiative to support ASEAN’s strategic plans for economic integration. Noting that the programme will expire at the end of this year, both sides underlined the need for the successor programme to build on the achievements that have been made so far.
Both sides also looked forward to the convening of the first annual ASEAN-Australia Summit in October this year, which will mark a new chapter in their Dialogue Relations.
The Permanent Representative of Malaysia to ASEAN Kamsiah Kamaruddin and Australian Ambassador to ASEAN Will Nankervis co-chaired the meeting, which were attended by the Permanent Representatives of ASEAN Member States or their representatives, as well as officials from the ASEAN Secretariat and the Australian Mission to ASEAN.
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Source: ASEAN Secretariat News
