Asean-Australia Forum: Implementation Of Plan Of Action (2015-2019) Reviewed

The development in the region and the challenges in having closer collaboration were discussed and addressed at the 29th ASEAN-Australia Forum held in Nay Pyi Taw on Friday.
Australian and ASEAN countries have been in a dialogue partners since 1974, and the two regions have very closed relations in social, economic, trade and investment.
The implementation of the ASEAN-Australia Plan of Action (2015-2019) which aims to implement ASEAN-Australia Strategic Partnership was reviewed at the forum, Director General of ASEAN Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Myanmar said.
Director General, ASEAN Affairs Department, Myint Thu: This action plan includes implementing the ASEAN Australia collaboration in politic and security, economic and social and culture. We will also draw the action lines to implement it.
Deputy Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Gary Quinlan: “This will be big focus on talking about the politic of the regions, the dynamic changing between countries, the emergence of china, the application of that, the emergence of new center empower growth of India, the development within ASEAN countries themselves  which becoming stronger and stronger. So all of those sort of discussions are typically held.”
Meanwhile, the forum also focuses on the preparations for the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit to be held in 2018.
The economic development of the ASEAN regions especially in Small and Medium enterprises will be discussed at the coming summit, Deputy Secretary of Australian Foreign Affairs and Trade Department said.
Deputy Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Gary Quinlan: “There will be big focus also on the new economy what we can do to generally promote new sources on growth of between Australia and ASEAN countries. This will include the digital economy, small and Medium size enterprises.”
The coming ASEAN- Australia Special Summit will be held in Australia in March next year.