Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese,

Australian PM to advance relationship with ASEAN during Laos visit

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will travel to Vientiane, Laos, from October 9-11 to attend the ASEAN-Australia and East Asia Summits, where he will put forward his country’s interests in the region.
The visit to Laos, the chair of ASEAN in 2024, will be vital in advocating for Australia’s interests for a more prosperous and stable region, said the Australian government in a media release published on the leader’s website.  
The visit is set to build on the 2024 ASEAN-Australia Special Summit held in Melbourne, Australia, last March, where ASEAN and Australian leaders reaffirmed their commitment to securing peace and a sustainable future for the region.
“We are committed to working with our partners to pursue a peaceful, stable and prosperous region with ASEAN at the centre,” said Prime Minister Albanese.
The Australian government stresses that deepening engagement with Southeast Asia remains a high priority while stating that stability in the region is crucial for Australia’s future.
In Vientiane, Prime Minister Albanese is also expected to meet with leaders and business representatives to discuss ongoing work to boost two-way trade and investment through ‘Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Strategy to 2040’, a recently launched Australian trade initiative.
"We are also acting to grasp economic opportunities in a region of incredible vitality and promise. Trade creates jobs for our nation and helps build our Future Made in Australia agenda,” said Prime Minister Albanese.
“My Government will continue to work closely with our partners to maximise opportunities for Australian businesses and workers within the region.”
The 10-member ASEAN bloc is Australia’s second-largest two-way trading partner, with trade supporting one in four Australian jobs and half a million jobs in Australia already linked to trade with Southeast Asia.
More than one million Australians have Southeast Asian heritage, pointing to Australia’s people-to-people ties with ASEAN countries.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update October 8, 2024)