ASEAN continues to play a pivotal role in fostering stability and prosperity across Southeast Asia, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said at the 5th Annual ASEAN-Australia Summit here today.
“ASEAN brings together shared aspirations and collective determination to tackle common challenges. This is a forum that allows us to work together to build and maintain a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region for all,” he said.
Albanese highlighted the joint commitment to regional security, citing a recent ASEAN-Australia Leaders’ Statement on Conflict Prevention and Crisis Management.
He also underlined Australia’s dedication to deepening economic engagement through its 2040 Southeast Asia Strategy, Invested, while praising the strong trust and enduring friendship between the peoples of Australia and ASEAN countries.
“None of us are mere spectators; we are all participants, engaged and responsible,” he said, marking 70 years of diplomatic relations between Australia and Malaysia.
Albanese also welcomed Timor-Leste’s accession as ASEAN’s 11th member.
Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim expressed confidence in the growing ties between Australia and ASEAN, noting achievements such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership in 2020, the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2021, and updates to the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area in 2023.
“The meeting today is an excellent opportunity to exchange views and explore ways not only to navigate but to strengthen this relationship,” Anwar said, highlighting strong people-to-people connections involving students, business leaders, researchers, and tourists.
The summit also featured a light-hearted exchange between the two leaders, with Anwar jokingly questioning why Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, of Malaysian descent, was absent from the delegation. Albanese replied that parliamentary duties prevented her attendance.
Australia, as ASEAN’s first dialogue partner, has consistently supported the community and the implementation of ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future, Anwar noted.
Trade between the two reached RM537.4 billion in 2024, underpinned by the ASEAN–Australia–New Zealand Free Trade Area agreement and central to Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040. - October 28, 2025
