Australia and Asean: Committed, invested and engaged

Australia congratulates the Philippines on its official assumption of the role of ASEAN Chair. This represents a huge opportunity for the country to enhance its leadership role in a rapidly evolving region.

- 

The Philippines' ASEAN Chair Year will see leaders and policymakers from across the region, and the world, come together to tackle some of the complex challenges that are facing us all from climate change to international trade, from economic development to regional security.

2026 also heralds important milestones. Australia will mark our 5th anniversary as a Comprehensive Strategic Partner of ASEAN. Bilaterally, we will celebrate the 80th anniversary of diplo matic relations between Australia and the Philippines. It's a time to showcase our wide-ranging cooperation and explore new opportunities to advance our common interests.

Australia will be working closely with the Philippines and ASEAN to realize our shared vision for a peaceful, stable and prosperous future. We welcome the Philippines' three priorities for ASEAN: peace and security anchors, prosperity corridors and people empowerment.

Canberra's commitment to ASEAN is strong and enduring. Shortly after the establishment of ASEAN, with the Philippines as a founding member, Australia recognized the value of the regional grouping. In 1974, Australia's then Prime Minister Gough Whitlam had the foresight to recognize "that of all the arrangements in our region, ASEAN is unquestionably the most important, the most relevant."

Since then, Australia and ASEAN have steadily built habits of cooperation, understanding and trust to expand our partnership. We recorded our mutual ambition through a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with ASEAN in 2021 - the first agreed by ASEAN.