Australia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations agreed on Wednesday to establish a comprehensive strategic partnership.
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN - Australia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations agreed on Wednesday to establish a "comprehensive strategic partnership", a sign of Canberra's ambition to play a bigger role in the region.
"This milestone underscores Australia's commitment to ASEAN's central role in the Indo-Pacific and positions our partnership for the future," he said in a joint statement with Foreign Minister Marise Payne. "Australia supports a peaceful, stable, resilient, and prosperous region, with ASEAN at its heart."
China has also sought an agreement on the same strategic level with ASEAN. Premier Li Keqiang met ASEAN leaders on Tuesday, and the bloc's leaders will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in November at a special summit, to be held virtually, two diplomatic sources told Reuters. The United States and allies have increased patrols to challenge Beijing's vast maritime fleet which it deploys to buttress its claims to sovereignty over most of the South China Sea.
U.S. ally the Philippines has backed AUKUS but its president, Rodrigo Duterte, on Wednesday said it "must complement and not complicate our working methods for cooperation".
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Southeast Asian leaders rebuke Myanmar junta after ASEAN summit no-showThe Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) says it would accept a non-political figure from Myanmar, but the junta rejects that, saying it would only agree to its leader or a minister attending
Read more »
Duterte brings up coral reef protection, illegal fishing during ASEAN-China dialogue“Vulnerable marine ecosystems, such as coral reefs and other living spaces of endangered and migratory wildlife species, should be prioritized,” he noted.
Read more »
Duterte reiterates support for Myanmar, call for maritime peace during ASEAN SummitPresident Rodrigo Duterte highlighted regional issues — including the crisis in Myanmar and the situation in the contested waters — during his speech at the 38th and 39th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summits and Related Summits on Tuesday.
Read more »
Duterte seeks creation of Asean center for public health emergencies ASAPMANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte called for the creation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Center on Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases to be
Read more »
Duterte bats for peace, stability in South China Sea as ASEAN twin summits beginThe Nation's Leading Newspaper
Read more »
Japan champions open seas in ASEAN summitJapanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida his country's strong opposition to challenges to a free and open maritime order.
Read more »