“We hope that from 2015 on, the ASEAN countries will welcome Australian students into their universities, into their homes and into their lives,” she continued.

ASEAN-Australia Commemorative Activities
The ASEAN-Australia Commemorative Summit will be held in November this year, wherein the adoption of a new Plan of Action to Implement the Joint Declaration on ASEAN-Australia Comprehensive Partnership (2014-2018) is expected.

“We start with a Plan of Action for four years, but we hope that it will underpin enduring relationship into the future. There will be a meeting between the ASEAN leaders and our prime minister, a commemorative event that in fact, gives rise to our hope that we will be able to meet with the ASEAN leaders and with our prime minister in a regular basis,” Minister Bishop explained.

The Australian side informed the audience, which is composed of top diplomats, including the Heads of Mission/ Representatives of all AMS and Dialogue Partners in the Philippines, that commemorative activities will include seminars, reflections on ASEAN-Australia history, publication of books, forums on emerging leaders and other areas where both sides “can work together for the betterment of their citizens.”

Served as an opportunity to chart a new strategic direction, complementing ASEAN’s focus on strengthening regional integration through the ASEAN Community 2015 and beyond, the Official Launch generally reflected on the depth of ASEAN-Australia engagement in security, culture, trade, education, people-to-people exchanges and development.

“Today, with 10 member states, ASEAN will forge ahead with Australia to build a stronger, resilient and progressive Asia-Pacific region that will meet the challenges of the 21st century. This is our opportunity and we will not fail in this great endeavor,” Secretary del Rosario said.