ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: It has indeed been an honour to host leaders from ASEAN and Timor-Leste here in Melbourne. I note that the Prime Minister of New Zealand also participated in the forum. This was to commemorate 50 years of partnership so that we can shape the future that Australia wants to see.

Working with our neighbours and friends is delivering for Australians. It delivers jobs, opportunities and security. We live in the region of the world with the fastest growth in human history. That presents an opportunity from that proximity going forward.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA: Thank you for joining us. It has been a privilege to welcome the leaders of Southeast Asia to Melbourne this week, to mark 50 years of formal partnership between Australia and ASEAN. I was very pleased to co-host this historic Summit with Prime Minister Sonexay of Laos. Australia shares a warm bond with Lao PDR and it's fitting that one of the achievements of this week was the upgrading of Australia's relationship with Lao PDR to a Comprehensive Partnership.

50 Years of ASEAN-Australia Relations

1. We, Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Australia, gathered in Melbourne, Australia on 6 March 2024 for the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit to Commemorate the 50th Anniversary of ASEAN-Australia Dialogue Relations ('Special Summit').

We, the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Australia, gathered here in Melbourne on 6 March 2024 on the occasion of the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit to Commemorate the 50th Anniversary of ASEAN-Australia Dialogue Relations.

We reaffirm our steadfast commitment to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership that is substantive, meaningful and mutually beneficial, based on friendship, mutual trust, shared interests and a positive vision for our region's future.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Timor-Leste have reaffirmed their commitment to securing peace, stability, prosperity and a sustainable future for the region.

Prime Minister Albanese hosted the leaders of the Lao PDR, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Timor-Leste in Melbourne at the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit.

Themed "A Partnership for the Future", the Summit marked 50 years since Australia became ASEAN's first Dialogue Partner.

Your Excellencies, my friends, welcome to Melbourne.

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.

I would like to acknowledge my co-chair, Prime Minister Sonexay.

Australia and Laos are longstanding friends with a rich  history of partnership — including the memorable visit to Australia by Prime Minister Sonexay’s father, then-Prime Minister Khamtai Siphandone almost 30 years ago.

Prime Minister Albanese and HE Mr Sonexay Siphandone, Prime Minister of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, signed an agreement elevating ties between Australia and Laos to a Comprehensive Partnership.  

Australia is proud to be one of Laos’ longest-standing partners, a relationship built on mutual respect, understanding and close cooperation.

The Australia-Laos Comprehensive Partnership will drive bilateral cooperation across four pillars, reflecting our shared priorities for the future:

Your Excellencies and distinguished guests. It is an honour to welcome you all to Australia and to Melbourne this ASEAN-Australia Special Summit commemorating 50 years of Dialogue Relations.

I’m very pleased to welcome my co-chair, Prime Minister Sonexay.

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.

Thank you to Uncle Bill Nicholson, for his warm welcome on behalf of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Traditional Owners.

1. The Prime Minister of Australia, The Honourable Anthony Albanese MP, welcomed His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, to Melbourne on the occasion of the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit to Commemorate the 50th Anniversary of ASEAN-Australia Dialogue Relations.
2. The Leaders commemorated the 40th anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Brunei Darussalam and Australia. Australia congratulated Brunei Darussalam for 40 years of the country’s full resumption of independence celebrated in February 2024.

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.