ASEAN-Australia relations will grow

Significance

Besides a leaders’ plenary and retreat, there were events linked to four thematic tracks: business; climate and clean energy; maritime cooperation; and emerging leaders. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had additional meetings with leaders of individual South-east Asian countries, not only during the summit but also before and after.

Impacts

• Australia will increase development assistance to the Mekong subregion, in other words mainland South-east Asia.
• Rising demand in South-east Asia for foreign tertiary education will likely benefit Australia’s education sector.
• Planned visa liberalisation policies should facilitate enhanced people-to-people ties between Australia and South-east Asia.