ASEAN, Australia enhance cooperation

The 3rd ASEAN-Australia Joint Cooperation Committee meeting was recently held at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The 3rd ASEAN-Australia Joint Cooperation Committee meeting was recentlyheld at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia.

It was co-chaired by Ambassador Elizabeth P. Buensuceso, PermanentRepresentative of the Philippines to ASEAN and Australian Ambassadorto ASEAN Simon Philip Merrifield.

The ASEANpermanent representatives expressed appreciation to the Government ofAustralia for the efforts to deepen its engagement with ASEAN, includingthe appointment of the first resident Australian Ambassador and theestablishment of the Mission of Australia to ASEAN.

The meeting reviewed the progress in the Implementation of the Plan ofAction (POA) to implement the Joint Declaration on ASEAN-AustraliaComprehensive Partnership 2008-2013.

The two sidesstressed the importance of continuing the effective implementation ofthe current POA, and working together towards the adoption of a new POAfor 2014-2018.

Delegates to the meeting also agreedto expand and strengthen cooperation in a number of areas, such asdisaster management, climate change and environment, public health,human trafficking, connectivity and infrastructure development,education, public outreach and people-to-people contact, among others.

Ambassador Merrifield reiterated Australia ’scontinued support for ASEAN’s centrality in the regional architecture aswell as its Community building process, which, as agreed by the twosides, should also be aligned with ASEAN’s Post-2015 vision.

The meeting discussed and revised the Terms of Reference of the AA-JCCto bring more strategic direction to the mechanism, particularly withregard to its role in overseeing ASEAN-Australia cooperation.
The meeting also looked into preparations for the ASEAN-AustraliaCommemorative Summit in 2014 and other proposed commemorative activitiesto mark the 40th Anniversary of the Dialogue Relations.

On this occasion, the Chair of the Meeting expressed thanks andappreciation to the ASEAN Member States and Australia for their timelyand valuable assistance to the victims of the Typhoon Haiyan thattremendously destructed the central part of the Philippines.-VNA

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