On 1 August 2019, H.E. Dato’ Saifuddin bin Abdullah, Minister of  Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, and Senator the Honourable Marise Payne, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women of Australia, co-chaired the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference with Australia during the 52^nd ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting/ Post Ministerial Conferences (PMCs) in Bangkok.

          The Meeting welcomed that this year marked the 45^th Anniversary of ASEAN-Australia Dialogue Relations and recognised Australia’s active role in various fields, particularly human resource development and in combatting human trafficking and terrorism. ASEAN appreciated Australia’s support to the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) to bridge development gaps among ASEAN Member States and in providing assistance to the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre) and ASEAN-Emergency Response and Assessment Team (ERAT).

          On economic affairs, the Ministers shared views that the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA) should be revised to facilitate higher volume of trade. They supported further cooperation in digital technology and was pleased to acknowledge the ongoing cooperation to promote people-to-people contact through the Australia Now project and the New Colombo Plan. Furthermore, the Meeting exchanged views on the situation in the Korean Peninsula and the South China Sea. The Meeting adopted the new Plan of Action to Implement the ASEAN-Australia Strategic Partnership 2020-2024.

          Prior to the Meeting, the Ministers held a Launching Ceremony of the ASEAN-Australia Counter-Trafficking Initiative, which will help reinforce regional cooperation in combatting human trafficking.

          Australia has been ASEAN’s oldest Dialogue Partner since 1975. In 2014, both sides celebrated the 40^th anniversary of Dialogue Relations which have been  elevated to strategic partnership. Malaysia is currently the Country Coordinator for ASEAN – Australia Dialogue Relations.

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