ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Thanks very much. I thought I'd do a quick doorstop before, between meetings on what is proving to be a very successful Special Summit to commemorate the ASEAN Australia 50 years of partnership. This is an opportunity for us to engage with our near neighbours in Southeast Asia. And earlier this morning, we've had the most significant upgrade of Australia's economic engagement with Southeast Asia for a generation.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Thank you for joining us. It's been a pleasure to host Prime Minister Lee for today's ninth Singapore-Australia Annual Leaders Meeting. And can I give you a very warm welcome publicly to Melbourne, Mr Prime Minister, and thank you for keeping the bonds between our nations so strong. Australia and Singapore's friendship is one anchored in warm personal ties, and a great amount of trust and respect for one another. We share a vision for an open, stable and prosperous region.
The Albanese Government is establishing a $2 billion investment financing facility to boost investment in Southeast Asia as part of a suite of economic initiatives announced at the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Melbourne.
Australia's two-way investment with ASEAN was worth $307 billion in 2022. Two-way trade with ASEAN accounted for $178 billion in 2022, accounting for 15 per cent of Australia's trade, which is greater than our trade with Japan or the United States.
Ministerial colleagues, Mr Nicholas Moore and distinguished guests, it is an honour to be here with some of Southeast Asia and Australia's most eminent business leaders.
I'm pleased to welcome you to the great city of Melbourne for the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit to commemorate 50 years of Dialogue Relations.
I begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we meet — the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people — and I pay my respects to their Elders, past and present.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met today with the Prime Minister of Singapore, His Excellency Lee Hsien Loong, for the 9th Australia-Singapore Annual Leaders' Meeting.
Australia and Singapore share a partnership that is remarkable in its breadth and depth, grounded in trust and respect.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA: Well, thank you very much, and it's been an honour to meet with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, here in Melbourne for the second Australia-Malaysia Annual Leaders Meeting, and to welcome him and his delegation to Australia for the upcoming ASEAN-Australia Special Summit to commemorate 50 years of us being, Australia being, a dialogue partner of ASEAN. Malaysia is one of Australia's oldest and most important friends in the region.
Prime Minister Albanese hosted Malaysian Prime Minister the Honourable Anwar Ibrahim for an official visit to Australia in Melbourne today. The two Prime Ministers held the second Australia-Malaysia Annual Leaders Meeting.
Malaysia is an important regional partner and friend to Australia. Leaders discussed their desire to bring our people and economies closer together, guided by our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040.
The Prime Ministers agreed to a range of initiatives to achieve this vision.
WILL GOODINGS, HOST: Well, the Prime Minister has called in to the program this morning because he's at ASEAN this morning and he had a couple of spare moments. Prime Minister, good morning to you.