Melbourne, Australia
4-6 March 2024

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. embarks on a trip to Australia and joins his fellow Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Leaders, along with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, for the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit set in Melbourne beginning March 4 until March 6, 2024.

This is the second time that Australia is hosting the ASEAN Member States, together with Timor-Leste, for it marks the 50th anniversary of its partnership with the ASEAN since becoming the regional bloc’s first Dialogue Partner in 1974.

Australia and the ASEAN formally became Strategic Partners in 2014. After which, both embarked on a decision to establish a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) in 2021, working towards strengthening cooperation, agreeing to shared priorities, increasing resources and advancing new programs.

In over half a century, Australia has been supporting a wide range of practical cooperation with the ASEAN including economic growth and integration, climate change, transnational crime and enhanced maritime security projects. As a regional bloc, ASEAN is Australia’s second largest trading partner, reflecting around 15% of the country’s total trade.

The ASEAN-Australia Special Summit is an opportunity to further enhance cooperation under the CSP, where leaders come together to look ahead for the next 50 years, and foster economic, climate and clean energy, and maritime cooperation efforts.

President Marcos Jr.’s participation to the Summit presents an opportunity for the Philippines to convey its core positions on regional and international issues, as well as reaffirm the country’s deepening relations with its neighbors in Southeast Asia and Australia.

The Philippines and Australia hold a longstanding friendship built on mutual trust and cooperation. Beginning 1946, both nations have worked together in ensuring close partnership guided by the shared interest of building peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

Just last week, President Marcos Jr. undertook a Guest of Government visit to Australia, reciprocating the visit of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to the Philippines in September last year. Both nations have seen an increased tempo in its bilateral engagements that cover various areas of cooperation; the most prominent of which is the two countries’ closer collaboration on defense and security.

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