ASEAN and Australia have agreed to work together to elevate theirdialogue relations as the two sides celebrate the 40th anniversary oftheir partnership this year.

This was highlighted during ameeting between the Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR) toASEAN with Australia ’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop andMinister for Trade and Investment Andrew Robb in Canberra last weekas part of the commemorative activities for the 40th anniversary ofASEAN-Australia relations, according to a press release by the ASEANSecretariat.

The two sides discussed and exchanged views onmatters related to trade and investment cooperation, negotiations onthe Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), tourismpromotion, education, as well as peace and security issues, includingdevelopments in the East Sea .

Ministers Bishop andRobb laid special emphasis on the new Colombo Plan as a proof ofAustralia ’s strong commitment to strengthening people-to-people linksand engagement with ASEAN.

Both sides also agreed that theASEAN-Australia Commemorative Summit will be held in Nay Pyi Taw,Myanmar, in November will be an important opportunity for the leaders ofboth sides to launch a new era of Dialogue Relations, including theunveiling of the new 2015-2019 Plan of Action and an ASEAN-AustraliaLeaders’ Joint Statement that will chart the future directions ofpartnership in political, economic, people-to-people and socio-culturalfields.

During their visit to Melbourne , Canberra andSydney from May 27 to June 1, the CPR members also met with officialsof the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, government officials andrepresentatives from the business sector and cultural organisations inthe States of Victoria and New South Wales .

Beforeproceeding to Australia, they attended the ASEAN-Australia ConnectivityWorkshop in Singapore on May 26, 2014, which was also part of thecommemorative activities for the 40 th anniversary of ASEAN-AustraliaDialogue Relations.-VNA