2024 ASEAN-Australia Special Summit

The 2024 Special Summit was held on 4-6 March 2024 in Melbourne, Australia.

On 4-6 March 2024, the Hon Anthony Albanese, MP, Prime Minister of Australia hosted leaders of ASEAN and Timor-Leste for the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit to celebrate 50 years of partnership with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Together, leaders shared their vision for our region, and discussed ways to strengthen our practical cooperation, from deepening ties between our people and economies, to boosting our cooperation on education, and environmental issues.

Leaders released two statements following the Special Summit: a Leaders’ Vision Statement setting out their strategic vision for next 50 years, and a Joint Leaders’ Declaration (the Melbourne Declaration):

Leaders’ Vision Statement – 2024 ASEAN-Australia Special Summit

Joint Leaders’ Declaration – 2024 ASEAN-Australia Special Summit

A number of key outcomes were also announced:

Outcomes summary

ASEAN leaders pose for the annual Family Photo during the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit 2024 in Melbourne. They stand on stage in a crossed-arm formation, holding hands, with Australian native flowers in front. Behind them, the ASEAN "50" logo with the message" ASEAN-Australia 1974-2024 A partnership for the future", kangaroo icons, the year "2024," and the Australian Union star.”
ASEAN leaders in Melbourne, Tuesday, March 05, 2024. Pictured (L-R) His Excellency Dr Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN, His Excellency Pham Minh Chinh, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, His Excellency Mr Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore, Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, The Honourable Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia, The Honourable Anthony Albanese MP, Prime Minister of Australia, His Excellency Mr Sonexay Siphandone, Prime Minister of the Lao PDR, His Excellency Mr. Joko Widodo, President of the Republic of Indonesia, His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, His Excellency Ferdinand R Marcos Jr, President of the Republic of the Philippines, His Excellency Mr Srettha Thavisin, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, His Excellency Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao, Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste.

Find out more about the 2024 ASEAN-Australia Special Summit:

ASEAN fast facts

  • USD3.6 trillion ASEAN combined GDP in 2022

    AUD5.4 trillion

    ASEAN combined GDP in 2022

  • 685 million ASEAN's predicted population in 2022

    685 million

    ASEAN's total population in 2022

  • 100,000 students from ASEAN countries are studying in Australia

    Over 100,000 students

    from ASEAN countries are studying in Australia

  • Australians speak an ASEAN language

    Over 800,000

    Australians speak an ASEAN language other than English

  • Over 1 million Australians claimed an ASEAN country as their country of birth in the 2021 Census

    More than 1.1 million

    Australians claim ancestry from Southeast Asian countries

  • AUD178 billion between Australia and ASEAN two-way trade in 2022

    AUD178 billion

    two-way trade between Australia and ASEAN in 2022