ASEAN, Australia consent to deepen comprehensive strategic partnership
VOV.VN - ASEAN and Australia have agreed to deepen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for the mutual benefit of both sides, whilst also conducting early negotiations to develop an action plan for cooperation for the 2025 to 2029 period, which will be submitted for approval at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Laos in July.
The consensus was reached at the 36th ASEAN-Australia Forum in Melbourne on Tuesday to discuss measures aimed at bolstering ties and preparing for the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Melbourne in March to mark the 50th anniversary of their dialogue relationship.
Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet led Vietnam’s ASEAN Senior Official Meeting delegation.
The action plan will prioritise collaboration in economics, trade, investment, education, training, disaster management, climate change response, the green economy, and energy transition.
Regarding the building of the ASEAN Community, Deputy Minister Viet underscored the importance of co-operation to narrow the sub-regional development gap, whilst also praising the achievements of both sides, particularly Australia’s support for ASEAN members in implementing the Initiative for ASEAN Integration and in developing the Mekong sub-region.
Deputy Minister Viet therefore urged Australia to institutionalise collaboration mechanisms in a bid to improve the efficiency of links between Australia and Mekong sub-region countries.