Hanoi (VNA) - Participants to the virtualASEAN-Australia Ministerial Meeting on September 10 shared the view that theASEAN-Australia dialogue relationship has made strong progress since itsestablishment in 1974, and positively contributed to regional peace andstability.

At the event, held within the framework of the 53rd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting(AMM-53), the foreign ministers of both sides held that ASEAN-Australiacooperation has significantly contributed to realising the ASEAN CommunityVision 2025, including the Blueprints of the ASEAN Political-SecurityCommunity, the ASEAN Economic Community and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community,the Work Plan of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) phase III and theMaster Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025.

Australia is currently ASEAN's 7th largest trade partner while ASEAN isAustralia's third largest trade partner. ASEAN is preparing for negotiations toupgrade the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA), thusbringing more practical benefits to the business community and stakeholders.Notably, in recent years, Australia has always been one of the top destinationschosen by ASEAN students.

Addressing the event, Australian Foreign Minister Maris Payne affirmed theAustralian commitment to building a stronger partnership on par with ASEAN’spotential. She announced that her country will provide 1 million AUD for theASEAN COVID-19 Response Fund.

Australia confirmed its support for specific cooperation with ASEAN accordingto the ASEAN Perspectives Document on the Indo-Pacific, thereby providingapproximately 60 million AUD to enhance economic integration under theASEAN-Australia Development Partnership, with priority given to economicrecovery, focusing on connectivity, infrastructure and digital transformation,she said.

She expressed her hope that the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership(RCEP) will soon be signed. Australian will continue supporting ASEAN studentsin the country through policies such as extending visas, delaying feecollection and creating jobs.

For his part, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham BinhMinh welcomed Australia's assistance to ASEAN countries in promoting regionalhealth security, economic recovery and stability, including the aid package of23 million AUD.

Minh appreciated Australia's support for ASEAN's efforts to ensure peace,security, stability and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea.

The Vietnamese official reiterated ASEAN's principled stance and asked theparties to uphold restraint, refrain from the acts that further complicate thesituation and from militarisation and settle disputes through peaceful measures.

The parties should continue to fully and effectively implement the Declarationon the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and soon finalise an effectiveand efficient Code of Conduct (COC) in accordance with international law,especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982),contributing to maintaining peace, security and stability in the East Sea andin the region, he noted. 

He also welcomed Australia for co-chairing the 2nd ASEAN-Australia dialogue onwomen, peace and security, which will take place later this year.

At the end of the meeting, the ministers approved the new Planof Action (2020-2024) to further deepen the ASEAN-Australia StrategicPartnership. The two sides agreed to hold the annual ASEAN-Australia Summit,starting from 2021./.