Phnom Penh, Cambodia
November 12, 2022

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. underscored Australia’s steadfast partnership with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) during his intervention at the 2nd ASEAN-Australia Summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Noting Australia’s active involvement with the ASEAN in many areas of cooperation, President Marcos Jr. articulated the country’s call for Australia’s continued support to the Region particularly in maritime cooperation, technical and vocational education, climate change mitigation, food resilience and sufficiency, and regional peace and security.

He likewise acknowledged Australia for its collaboration in combatting transnational crime and expressed his appreciation for its support to the country’s Bohol Trafficking in Persons Work Plan in order to implement the ASEAN Convention on Trafficking in Persons Especially Women and Children.

As the inaugural Chair of the ASEAN Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) from 2020 to 2022, President Marcos Jr. conveyed his hopes for an increase in trainings and scholarships between specialists and students in the Region and Australia, as these would be essentially helpful in the conclusion of the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area that would further encourage trade in services and other updates in the digital age.

This year’s Summit reaffirmed the further strengthening of partnership between Australia and the ASEAN, having been the first Dialogue Partner of the regional bloc in 1974. Australia remains as one of ASEAN’s top trading partners and has supported the Region’s vision of a rules-based, inclusive and economically integrated regional community.

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