The Government of Australia and the Government of the Netherlands ("the Participants"),

acknowledging the shared values and strong cultural, people-to-people and historical links between Australia and the Netherlands,

valuing the extensive trade and investment relations between Australia and the Netherlands,

recognising our close cooperation in international forums, including the United Nations, and on international initiatives and missions,

confirming that our common interests lie in promoting a global rules-based order, international peace, stability and security, sustainable economic growth and shared prosperity,

declare as follows:

1. The Participants desire to strengthen and deepen their bilateral cooperation and multilateral partnerships on international political, development and security issues. This will include cooperation in the United Nations; the fight against Daesh; countering terrorism and the threat of foreign fighters; the promotion of human rights, including gender equality and women's empowerment; new approaches to international development assistance; arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation; nuclear security and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy; international cyber policy issues; the fight against transnational crime, including people smuggling, human trafficking and cyber-crime; cyber security and internet policy; the protection of the environment; and the modernisation of diplomacy. The Participants will maintain their highly productive defence cooperation established in Afghanistan and will continue to strengthen cooperation between law enforcement agencies. Recognising the importance of the relationship between Australia and NATO, the Participants will support Australia's continued status as a NATO Enhanced Opportunity Partner.
2. The Participants desire to strengthen bilateral trade and investment and to create a commercial environment which promotes business confidence and fosters growth and innovation. At the multilateral level, the Participants will continue to promote policies which support economic growth, employment opportunities, trade liberalisation, and removal of trade distorting policies. The Participants will also continue their close cooperation and consultation on global economic and trade issues, including those on the G20 agenda.
3. Recognising the importance of the broader economic relationship between Australia and the European Union, the Participants will support the negotiation of an Australia-European Union free trade agreement.
4. The Participants desire to preserve their rich shared cultural heritage and to encourage academic cooperation, including double degrees, between knowledge institutes. The Participants will share best practices on corporate reform initiatives and diplomatic training and will explore possibilities for staff exchange.
5. Mindful of their shared commitment to achieve accountability with respect to the downing of MH17, the Participants will continue to work together in the criminal investigation through the Joint Investigation Team and the following prosecution and trial to hold those responsible to account and seek justice for the victims and their loved ones.
6. To these ends, the Participants will seek opportunities for Foreign Ministers to meet annually in their respective capitals or in the margins of international meetings. Such meetings will be supported by regular consultations between senior officials, with the aim of identifying issues warranting ministerial dialogue, as well as coordinating cooperation on issues of mutual interest on all aforementioned matters.

Signed at Canberra on 2 November 2016