According to the Prime Minister, the commitment is part of a broader effort to support the region’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, helping to build a “peaceful, inclusive, sovereign and resilient” ASEAN-centred Indo-Pacific, underpinned by “open, rules-based” trade.

Specifically, the government has agreed to investing:

• $21 million for the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases;
• $24 million towards the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; 
• $232 million to support economic integration and development in the Mekong — includes the provision of scholarships, cyber and critical technology capabilities support, the implementation of the Vietnam Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy, and the opening of a liaison office in Myanmar’s capital, Nay Pyi Taw;
• $104 million towards military education, infectious diseases, cyber resilience, maritime security and English language training;
• $70 million for high quality infrastructure development and technical assistance;
• $65 million to support the development of marine resources sustainably and address challenges through enhanced training, technical advice and cooperation;
• $13 million towards the establishment of standards-setting bodies to modernise regional economies; and
• $46 million to fund the provision of technical assistance and capacity building that supports the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the ASEAN-Australia and New Zealand Free Trade Agreement.

The federal government has also committed to expanding its Defence adviser and Defence attaché network to cover all ASEAN countries and fund Australia’s defence industry.

ASEAN has agreed to hosting annual leaders’ summits with Australia, building on the 2018 ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Sydney.

[Related: Indo-Pacific may not be a priority under President Biden: USSC experts warn]

Charbel Kadib

Author

News Editor – Defence and Security, Momentum Media

Prior to joining the defence and aerospace team in 2020, Charbel was news editor of The Adviser and Mortgage Business, where he covered developments in the banking and financial services sector for three years. Charbel has a keen interest in geopolitics and international relations, graduating from the University of Notre Dame with a double major in politics and journalism. Charbel has also completed internships with The Australian Department of Communications and the Arts and public relations agency Fifty Acres.

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