Australia, Laos sign deal enhancing relations
MELBOURNE, Australia: The leaders of Australia and Laos signed an agreement to deepen bilateral ties on Wednesday, the final day of a Southeast Asian summit.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his Laotian counterpart Sonexay Siphandone are co-chairmen of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)-Australia Special Summit in the southeastern city of Melbourne to mark 50 years since the island continent became the 10-member regional bloc’s first external partner.
The agreement elevates the two countries’ relationship to a comprehensive partnership, which will become the foundation for collaboration in defense, environment, climate, clean energy, agriculture and education.
Laos, the bloc’s poorest nation, took over the Asean’s rotating leadership from Indonesia this year and is pursuing a theme of enhancing connectivity and resilience.
Albanese said the key themes of Wednesday’s discussions included trade, investment, climate change, clean energy and maritime cooperation.
China’s increasing assertiveness in the region and the ongoing violence and humanitarian crisis in Asean member Myanmar have also loomed over the three-day summit.
Myanmar has been denied political representation at the bloc’s meeting over its failure to stem the violence in that country since the military ousted the elected government of 1991 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung Sang Suu Kyi in a coup on Feb. 1, 2021.
East Timor’s Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão is also attending the summit after the Asean agreed in principle to admit Asia’s newest country.
The former independence fighter has called on the bloc to do more to restore peace and democracy in Myanmar.