Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs Marise Payne (Source: Reuters)In her statement released on August 7, Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs MarisePayne said Australiawill implement a new package of initiatives under Partnerships for Recovery tomeet the health security, economic and stability challenges in our region,including COVID-19.
“I am pleased to launch One Health Scholarships for up to 40students from ASEAN countries to undertake an online Graduate Certificate inOne Health, delivered by Murdoch University,” she said.
Recognising the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mentalhealth, Australia will hold the first ASEAN-Australia Mental Health Expertsvideoconference and a Youth Dialogue to exchange expertise among the region’spolicy makers, practitioners and future leaders.
ASEAN, as a bloc, is Australia’s second largest trading partner, as a bloc, sotheir economic recoveries from COVID-19 are closely linked, she stated, addingAustralia’s first investment of 5.2 million AUD (4.1 million USD) under the EmergingMarkets Impact Investment Fund will provide digital lending and financialservices to small and medium enterprises in Southeast Asia.
Affirming the critical role ASEAN has played in maintaining stability andcooperation in Southeast Asia over the past six decades, Payne said Australiawill support international response efforts with additional COVID-19assistance, including technical experts to the ASEAN Coordinating Centre forHumanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management; provide additional PPE throughASEAN; and an additional 6 million AUD (4.8 million USD) contribution to the UNOffice for Project Services to support vulnerable households in Myanmar.
She said Australia is gravely concerned aboutthe impact of Myanmar’s COVID-19 crisis, both on the people of Myanmar and theregion’s health security, and welcomes the appointment ofBrunei Foreign Minister II Dato Erywan as the Special Envoy of the ASEANChair on Myanmar. Australia urges the full and timely implementation of theFive Points of Consensus agreed at the ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting on April 24.
“Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, we must not lose sight of the importance ofworking together to contain the threat of terrorism and radicalisation. Toenhance our cooperation in this area, ASEAN and Australia have agreed toestablish an annual Counter-Terrorism Dialogue,” she noted.
According to the minister, this week, her country launched the AustralianScience and Technology for Climate Partnerships, a 5.5 million AUD (4.4 millionUSD) initiative to address climate challenges with research-based solutions inthe Indo-Pacific.
This support complements the 500 million AUD (400 million USD) package PrimeMinister Morrison announced at the 2020 ASEAN-Australia Summit. Theseinvestments, along with Australia’s broader development programme, vaccine accessinitiative and 1.5 billion AUD loan to Indonesia for budgetary support,comprise Australia’s largest package of support for Southeast Asia since the2004 Indian Ocean tsunami./.
VNA
