From 9 to 11 October, Prime Minister Albanese visited Vientiane, Laos for the 4th Annual ASEAN-Australia Summit and 19th East Asia Summit.
Prime Minister Albanese co-chaired with Laos’ Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone the 4th Annual ASEAN-Australia Summit. Prime Minister Albanese reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to ASEAN centrality and building Australia’s links with Southeast Asia. The Prime Minister highlighted the progress made implementing Invested: Australia's Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040 over the past year. The Chair Statement summarising discussions is available online: Chairman’s Statement of The 4th ASEAN-Australia Summit.
The Prime Minister also attended the East Asia Summit (EAS) alongside ASEAN leaders and seven other ASEAN Dialogue Partners (China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia, and the United States). The East Asia Summit is the Indo-Pacific’s premier forum for strategic dialogue. The Prime Minister emphasised a strong ASEAN underpins regional stability, helps prevent conflict, and reinforces rules, norms and international law. The Chair Statement is available online: Chairman’s Statement of The 19th East Asia Summit.
Alongside the summits, the Prime Minister held bilateral meetings with leaders from China, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Canada and New Zealand.
The Prime Minister also hosted a breakfast event with Southeast Asian and Australian business representatives. Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh was the Guest of Honour and Australia’s Special Envoy for South East Asia Nicholas Moore AO also attended. The event celebrated the first anniversary of the launch of Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040.
Prime Minister Albanese participated in the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) leaders’ meeting hosted by Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. AZEC is Japan’s signature initiative to advance decarbonisation and the net zero energy transition with Southeast Asia. It includes Japan, all ASEAN member states except Myanmar, and Australia.