From 4-6 March, the Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon Anthony Albanese MP, hosted a Special Summit to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of ASEAN Australia Dialogue Relations in Melbourne.
The Special Summit marked a significant milestone in the partnership between ASEAN and Australia, with its sights set on a new era in the relationship. The Summit focused on bringing the 2021 Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to life, to advance shared policy interests, deepen networks across the region, and strengthen cooperation in an increasingly contested region faced with complex environmental challenges, economic uncertainty and strategic competition.
To complement the Leaders’ program, the Australian Government partnered with Asialink to deliver the Emerging Leaders’ Dialogue, bringing together 65 emerging leaders and 42 expert speakers from across ASEAN, Timor Leste and Australia. Over a two-and-a-half day dialogue they examined the key issues shaping our future. Drawing on their unique areas of expertise, the Emerging Leaders proposed collaborative solutions to many pressing challenges.
The rich discussion is reflected in this Op-Ed series of articles, which Asialink commissioned from participants. Tackling issues ranging from education to food security, artificial intelligence to the green economy, this series exemplifies the depth and breadth of knowledge and creativity in finding shared solutions and the complementarities between Australia and ASEAN member states in working together to achieve progress.
