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.

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.

1. The Prime Minister of Singapore, His Excellency Lee Hsien Loong, and the Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon Anthony Albanese MP, met for the 9th Australia-Singapore Annual Leaders' Meeting in Melbourne on 5 March 2024.
2. Prime Minister Albanese was pleased to welcome Prime Minister Lee to Melbourne for the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit. The Leaders agreed on the importance of working closely with partners in Southeast Asia to ensure the region remains stable, peaceful and prosperous.