Jakarta (VNA) –  The Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN) and Australia have recently held the first Joint Planning and ReviewCommittee (JPRC) Meeting of the Australia for ASEAN (Aus4ASEAN) FuturesInitiative at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Ambassador Bovonethat Douangchak, PermanentRepresentative of Laos to ASEAN and Country Coordinator for ASEAN-AustraliaDialogue Relations, co-chaired the Meeting with Australian Ambassador to ASEAN WillNankervis.

Aus4ASEAN Futures is the flagship investmentunder the ASEAN-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP).Predominantly focused on supporting the ASEAN Economic Community Pillar’s (AEC)goal of connectivity and integration, Aus4ASEAN Futures will soon expand itsflexible and demand-driven support for ASEAN priorities across all three ASEANcommunity pillars.

The meeting approved the Rolling Prioritisation Planof the Aus4ASEAN Futures Initiative for the reporting period of October 2022 toOctober 2023. It discussion focused on key achievements of the initiative sofar, including support for the Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA),ASEAN Strategy for Carbon Neutrality; ASEAN Tariff Finder, Initiative for ASEANIntegration and implementation of the ASEAN Outlook of the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).

Ambassador Nankervis briefed ASEAN member states on Australia’s International Development Policy,including new targets to tackle challenges across the ASEAN region to supporteconomic growth, healthcare, infrastructure investment, climate change andgender equality.

“As ASEAN’sfirst Dialogue Partner and a Comprehensive Strategic Partner, Australia iscommitted to deepening our engagement with ASEAN and continuing to take forwardtangible, flexible, reliable cooperation that delivers for ASEAN and itspeople. Through Aus4ASEAN Futures we will keep listening and responding toASEAN priorities,” he said.

Ambassador Douangchak highlighted the importance ofthe projects’ implementation under the successor Aus4ASEAN Futures initiativesas well as key roles and performances of JPRC.

He welcomed three new projects approved during thereporting period, in particular the “Regional Workshop on ASEAN Integration:Enhancing the IAI Work Plan IV (2021-2025) Implementation,” and among others.

The JPRC agreed on key areas for future cooperation,including in support of climate change, energy transition, the ASEAN post-2025agenda, infrastructure and connectivity, digital economy, health, education,and maritime cooperation.

It will also support the ASEAN Chairs’ priorities,and consider outcomes of the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in March 2024./.