PM to attend Asean-Aussie special summit in Sydney
Joko keen on Canberra playing bigger role
PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has arrived in Sydney to attend a summit on Asean-Australia cooperation.
The special aircraft carrying Najib touched down at the Kingsford Smith Airport at 10.48 pm (7.48 pm Malaysian time) Friday.
Najib was accompanied by his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.
On hand to welcome them were Assistant Minister to the Australian Prime Minister James McGrath, New South Wales Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation Matt Kean and Malaysian High Commissioner to Australia Datuk Sudha Devi Vasudevan.
Najib is scheduled to deliver a keynote address at the closing segment of the Counter-Terrorism Conference on the first day of the two-day summit this weekend.
Foreign Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Ramlan Ibrahim said Najib is the only Asean leader invited to deliver a speech at the closing segment.
The other leader to address the conference will be Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
“This is a recognition, a great privilege and it reflects his (Najib’s) authority and leadership in highlighting issues related to counter-terrorism in the region,” said Ramlan.
“Najib’s firmness as a leader and Malaysia’s strategy have given Australia confidence to invite him to state his vision and suggest the best approach to address the issue based on our experience and the approach we have taken,” Ramlan said at a press conference in Sydney yesterday.
In a statement earlier in the day, the Foreign Ministry said it will be the first time for Australia to host a summit with all Asean leaders.
“The special summit is organised to discuss the future direction and cooperation between Asean and Australia.
“Besides that, the summit is also organised to commemorate the elevation of Asean-Australia relations to a strategic partnership,” it said.
Najib is also expected to use this opportunity to hold bilateral meetings with his Asean and Australia counterparts to discuss issues of mutual interest.
During the special summit, the leaders are expected to deliver two important outcome documents, the Sydney Declaration and the Memorandum of Understanding between Asean and Australia on Cooperation to Counter International Terrorism.
The Asean-Australia special summit will comprise three sessions, namely the Asean-Australia Leader’s Summit, the Asean-Australia Businesses Summit and the AseanAustralia Counter-Terrorism Conference. — Bernama
Sydney: Indonesian President Joko Widodo wants Australia to become a full member of Asean, signalling he is keen on Canberra playing a bigger regional role in defence, trade and security matters.
His comments come with Australia hosting a special summit of Asean leaders in Sydney, as China increasingly flexes its muscle and the threat of violent extremism grows.
“I think it’s a good idea,” Joko told the Sydney Morning Herald yesterday, referring to Australia joining Asean – the first time an Indonesian president has endorsed the concept.
“Because our region will be better, (for) stability, economic stability, and also political stability. Sure, it will be better.”
Australia has been a dialogue partner of Asean, which groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, since 1974.
They began biennial leaders’ summits in 2016, with the first in Vientiane.
In a report last month, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute argued that Canberra should aim for Asean membership by 2024 – its 50th anniversary of being a partner – and use the Sydney summit as a launch pad.
“As the geo-strategic and geo-economic pressures build in Asia, Asean, as a middle-power grouping, needs the extra middle-power heft offered by Australia and New Zealand,” it said.
“The Sydney summit is the moment to launch the long conversation about Australia joining Asean.”
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said he was “very warmed” by Joko’s comments, but stressed “Asean matters are matters for Asean”.
“We have the greatest respect for Asean, the way it reaches its own conclusions,” he said ahead of a bilateral meeting with Cambodian leader Hun Sen.
“We are a dialogue partner with Asean and we respect that centrality of Asean and its significance and fundamental importance, central importance, in our region.”
Joko, who will reportedly have a private dinner with Turnbull at his harbourside home today, singled out close co-operation with Canberra on counter-terrorism.
He said he regularly spoke on the phone with Turnbull to resolve issues such as the threat posed by extremists who last year seized the Philippine city of Marawi.
Countering the threat of violent extremism and ways to choke terrorist financing are key themes of the Sydney summit.