Commemoration - 40th Anniversary of ASEAN-Australia relations
Photo credit: Bart Verweij
Marking the importance of the 40th anniversary of Australia\'s dialogue partnership with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a significant milestone of events had been organised throughout 2014.
The relationship between ASEAN and Australia was established in 1967 and formalised in 1974 when representatives of the then ASEAN member countries and a delegation of Australian officials agreed to meet on a regular basis to discuss political, economic and functional cooperation.
“Building on a shared ambition for regional economic integration and continuing to grow our two-way trade, which has leapt from AU$45 billion to AU$92 billion in the past decade, is a top priority. Ongoing economic diplomacy efforts will continue to expand our already significant trade, economic, investment and tourism ties,” said the Hon Julie Bishop, Australian Foreign Minister.
In order to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the dialogue partnership, Australia had already hosted several events. Australia organised the Australia-ASEAN Business Forum, as well as the 26th ASEAN-Australia Forum, and visits by the ASEAN Secretary-General, senior ASEAN media commentators and ASEAN Committee of Permanent Representatives from February to June 2014.
“The ASEAN partnership provides important opportunities to deepen the ties between our peoples, including through initiatives such as the New Colombo Plan, which supports young Australians to study and undertake internships in the region, and the Australia Awards, which support emerging global leaders to study in Australia,” said Bishop.
During a visit to Lao PDR in July 2014, Ms Bishop met with Lao leaders to discuss Australian support to assist Laos in the lead up to its ASEAN chairmanship in 2016.
The Australian Embassy in Laos also celebrated the 40th anniversary of relations by supporting joint events throughout the year. The Embassy sponsored, along with the Mekong River Commission (MRC), an Australia-ASEAN entry in the annual boat racing festival in October 2014 in Vientiane.
The Embassy hosted a public seminar on Australia-ASEAN relations with the Australian Ambassador to ASEAN in early September 2014; a seminar focused on women’s leadership in ASEAN; and an event focused on education and training issues in the margins of the Vientiane East Asia Summit (EAS) Education Ministers’ Meeting in September 2014.
2014 long program of events, in collaboration with ASEAN, commemorated the 40th anniversary in Australia and South-East Asia included the support of government and non-government sectors. The 40th anniversary culminated in an ASEAN-Australia leaders\' Summit at the EAS in Nai Pyi Taw in Myanmar.