ASEAN-Australia 40th Anniversary Commemoration Launched, More Strategic Cooperation Ahead

Photo (from left to right) Brunei Darussalam's H.E. Malai Hajah Halimah Malia Haji Yussof, Cambodia's H.E. Tuot Panha, Lao PDR's Mr. Khamfeung Phanthaxay, Indonesia's Mr. Ade Petrante, ASEAN-Secretary General Ming, Philippine Foreign Minister del Rosario, Australian Foreign Minister Bishop, Malaysia's H.E. Dato'Mohd Zamri Bin Mohd Kassim, Myanmar's H.E. Ye Myint Aung, Singapore's H.E. Hirubalan V P, Thailand's H.E. Prasas Prasasvinitchai and Vietnam's Truong Trieu Duong.

Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and ASEAN Secretary-Generyal Le Luong Minh, together with the Heads of Mission/Representatives of ASEAN Member States in the Philippines, joined hands the ASEAN Way during the Official Launch of the 40th Anniversary of the ASEAN-Australia Dialogue Relations at The Peninsula Manila Hotel on 20 February 2014.

21 February 2014 - Celebrating four decades of dialogue relations between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Australia, Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario and Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, in the presence of ASEAN Secretary-General Le Luong Minh, led the Official Launch of the ASEAN-Australia 40th Anniversary Commemoration at The Peninsula Manila Hotel on February 20.

“Today, we celebrate Australia’s status as ASEAN’s first official Dialogue Partner, as well as the mutually beneficial engagement between ASEAN and Australia these past four decades,” said Secretary Del Rosario, recalling Australia’s vision to partner with ASEAN forty years ago, when it was just composed of five member states.