Accordingly, the Australia-ASEAN Council will support the Australia-ASEAN Youth Summits for high school students from across Australia and Southeast Asia; the University of Sydney to develop workshops and online exhibitions; museums in ASEAN and Australia to interpret and communicate the shared maritime histories; and Deakin University to deliver a series of workshops to accelerate the energy transition in Malaysia, Vietnam, and Australia.

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Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong (right) greets Indonesia's Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi (left) during the Australia - ASEAN Summit in Melbourne on Monday, March 4, 2024.

Meanwhile, the Australia-Indonesia Institute grants include workshops and training by the New South Wales Rural Doctors Network in Maluku, Indonesia, to enhance community health capacity in remote areas; and programs to empower women entrepreneurs through mentorship, capacity-building, and networking, including the 'Shehacks' program to support women-led startups in Indonesia, fostering global connections and knowledge transfer.

Australia affirmed that it and Southeast Asian countries share a region and a future. This year, Australia and ASEAN celebrate the 50th anniversary since Australia became ASEAN’s first formal dialogue partner, and welcome ASEAN leaders and delegations to Melbourne for the ASEAN - Australia Special Summit.

The two sides are laying the groundwork for the next 50 years of cooperation, as they develop a partnership for the future, across governments, the private sector and the community, including through the project “Invested: Australia's Southeast Asia Strategy to 2040.”

Source: VNA