Australia sees ASEAN at the centre of a peaceful, stable and prosperous region, where sovereignty is respected, and all countries benefit from strategic balance. Australia recognises ASEAN centrality as key to the region's stability and security, and we are committed to supporting ASEAN's leadership. Our relationship is based on friendship, mutual trust, shared interests and a positive vision for our region's future.

Australia became ASEAN's first Dialogue Partner in 1974, and ASEAN and Australia made the historic decision to establish a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) in October 2021. On 4-6 March 2024, Australia held the ASEAN–Australia Special Summit to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of ASEAN-Australia Dialogue Relations. The Melbourne Declaration and Leaders' Vision Statement outline our shared ambitions for the next 50 years of our partnership.

Through our Plan of Action to Implement the ASEAN-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2025-2029), we work with ASEAN to advance and deliver on our shared priorities, including in economic integration, sustainable and inclusive economic growth, digital economy, energy transition and climate change, education and skills, agriculture and food, trade and investment, sustainable development, and regional resilience.

The ASEAN-Australia Centre, announced by the Prime Minister at the Special Summit supports our partnership and focuses on Southeast Asia literacy, economic linkages, education and cultural connections. The Centre delivers varied programs and initiatives, many supporting our region's youth to build strong connections.

Australia collaborates closely on ASEAN-led arrangements, such as the East Asia Summit, ASEAN Regional Forum, and ASEAN-Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus. We strongly support the principles of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and are committed to supporting its implementation.

The Australian Mission to ASEAN was established in 2013 and is led by Australia's Ambassador to ASEAN. The Mission is based in Jakarta, where the headquarters of the ASEAN Secretariat and the ASEAN Committee of Permanent Representatives are also located.

Trade and investment

The countries of Southeast Asia collectively are Australia's second largest trade partner. Our strong trade links are supported by our three regional and four bilateral free trade agreements, which are pathways for Australian business to tap into ASEAN and the ASEAN Economic Community. These include:

• Agreement Establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA)
• Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP)
• Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)
• Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA)
• Malaysia-Australia Free Trade Agreement (MAFTA)
• Singapore-Australia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA)
• Thailand-Australia Free Trade Agreement.

The Australian Government has commenced a comprehensive review of Australia's free trade agreements (FTAs) in Southeast Asia to identify opportunities to upgrade and ensure they continue to deliver for Australian businesses and investors.

The Regional Trade for Development Initiative (RT4D), supports the region's trade and economic priorities by helping ASEAN Member States to fully implement and take advantage of AANZFTA and RCEP.

We are also working with ASEAN to strengthen two-way trade and investment, including through the implementation of the AUD 500 million ASEAN-Australia Special Summit initiatives, and Invested: Australia's Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040.

Development cooperation

ASEAN and Mekong Program 2024-25 total allocation [budget estimate]

$97.6 million

ASEAN and Mekong Program 2023-24 total Australian ODA [actual]

$102.4 million

ASEAN and Mekong Program 2022-23 total Australian ODA [actual]

$108.3 million

Australia's development cooperation with ASEAN underpins our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership by delivering meaningful practical outcomes. It supports the ASEAN Community Vision 2045: Resilient, Innovative, Dynamic and People-Centred (ACV 2045)and the AOIP, and is guided by the Australia–Southeast Asia Development Partnership Plan (2024–2028).

• Australia works with ASEAN on shared development challenges to sustain the region's hard won development gains and our support is designed to be responsive, agile, and ASEAN-led. We work on a range of priorities across ASEAN's three community pillars, including:
• economic
• driving regional economic growth and integration, including governance, digital economy, trade and investment, food security, infrastructure and supporting Timor Leste's ASEAN accession
• supporting ASEAN's regional energy transition and climate change efforts, including the ASEAN Power Grid and ASEAN Centre for Climate Change
• political security
• tackling shared regional challenges, including maritime, cyber, conflict prevention, women peace and security, transnational crime and people trafficking
• socio cultural
• delivering scholarships, fellowships, and training to strengthen regional ties
• supporting priorities in safe labour migration, health, humanitarian, and gender, disability and social inclusion.

The Aus4ASEAN Futures Initiative ($204 million, 2022-2032) is Australia's flagship development program and supports jointly agreed projects that address complex regional challenges, including the implementation of the AOIP. The Futures Initiative responds to ASEAN priorities and provides practical assistance through ASEAN systems. It is based at the ASEAN Secretariat.

Australia provides bilateral development assistance to some countries in Southeast Asia. Details are available on the Development Program Progress Reports page.

People connections

Australia has strong connections to the people of Southeast Asia, including through migration, education exchanges and tourism. Over one million Australian residents claimed an ASEAN country as their country of birth in the 2021 Census and over 1.1 million had ASEAN ancestry.

Australia's people and institutional connections with Southeast Asia are enhanced by the ASEAN-Australia Centre.

In 2024, Australia welcomed approximately 180,000 students from Southeast Asia, composing 20% of all international students to Australia. Many Southeast Asian alumni of Australian universities have careers in politics, business, academia and the arts while maintaining their close ties to Australia. Australia will provide over 650 new Australia Awards long-term and over 1,700 short-term scholarships across Southeast Asia in 2025.

Under our CSP, Australia has offered 232 Aus4ASEAN Scholarships to undertake Masters programs in Australia, and 55 Fellowships to undertake online, in-Australia and regional components to deepen knowledge and networks in areas that reinforce the AOIP.

Young Australians are also choosing to study in Southeast Asia, including under the New Colombo Plan (NCP). The NCP fosters deeper people-to-people and education relationships, and increases Australia's economic engagement with the region.