Page 13 - Diplomatic Voice Vol 4

FORUM NEWS th Panel Discussion on the 40 Anniversary of ASEAN-Australia Relations th The year 2014 marks the 40th anniver- agenda, the Australian Competition The final panelist, Dr. Sufian Jusoh, sary of Australia’s dialogue partner- and Consumer Commission will pro- spoke on ASEAN and Australia in the ship with ASEAN. To commemorate vide an intensive capacity building Era of the AEC: The Way Forward. He this event, IDFR in collaboration with programme for ASEAN member states started his presentation by sharing his the Australian High Commission, Ma- on implementing competition law led personal experience when he was laysia organised a panel discussion by Professor Allan Fels, an eminent assigned to undertake the study of with the theme, Strengthening Re- Australian scholar and Australia will prospect of investment flow between gional Integration through Strategic support the Economic Research Ins- ASEAN, Australia and New Zealand Partnership. The objective of the panel titute for ASEAN (ERIA) which will under the ASEAN-Australia-New discussion was to chart the evolution provide research and policy recom- Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA) of Australia’s engagement with mendations to ASEAN ministers and Economic Co-operation Work Pro- ASEAN, the importance of ASEAN- the secretariat towards ASEAN’s eco- gramme (ECWP). He said that such a Australia relationship and to explore nomic community building. H.E. Am- comprehensive study could not have future directions together. bassador Merrifield concluded his pre- been completed without financial sentation by informing that the New assistance from the Government of The panelists were made up of H.E. Colombo Plan will be offered to all Australia. Ambassador Simon Merrifield, Austra- ASEAN member states to further their lia’s Ambassador to ASEAN, Ambas- education in Australia and for Austra- The key characteristics of AEC is to be sador Jojie Samuel, Deputy Director lian students to carry out their intern- a single market and production based, General, ASEAN Socio-Cultural Com- ship in any of the ASEAN countries. a highly competitive economic region, munity, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a region of equitable economic deve- Malaysia and Dr. Sufian Jusoh, IDFR’s The panel discussion continued with lopment and a region fully integrated Distinguished Fellow, Senior Fellow the second panelist, Ambassador into the global economy. Some of the and Director, Centre for International Jojie Samuel who spoke on The areas that Australia had been investing Law and Siyar, Universiti Kebangsaan Strengthening of ASEAN-Australia in ASEAN are; financial services, Malaysia (UKM). Dato’ Dr. Mohd Yusof Relations under Malaysia’s Chairman- education, ICT, manufacturing, mining Ahmad, Head of the Institute of ship of ASEAN 2015. He began by and mining services as well as oil and ASEAN Studies and Global Affairs announcing that Malaysia will officially gas. According to the survey carried (INSPAG) Faculty of Administrative assume the role of ASEAN chairman- out by Dr. Sufian, ASEAN is on par Science and Policy Studies, Universiti ship on 1 January 2015 and gave with Australia in terms of obtaining Teknologi MARA (UiTM) was the some background information about Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and moderator. the chairmanship. The year 2015 will when AEC comes into effect by the be a major milestone in ASEAN as the end of 2015, it is expected that ASEAN H.E. Ambassador Merrifield as the first ASEAN Community will be realised. will be able to draw in more FDIs, panelist delivered his presentation Malaysia’s chairmanship is critical in reduce non-tariff barriers and lead a titled Australia and ASEAN: The Path ensuring that the priority measures higher degree of regulatory coherence to a Strategic Partnership and Be- and initiatives for the ASEAN commu- among ASEAN member states. In his yond. He recalled the historical ties nity are in place and the integration concluding remarks, Dr. Sufian men- between Malaysia and Australia and process will seamlessly continue be- tioned that in order for the AEC to be how Australia played an active diplo- yond 2015. successful, ASEAN needs to work on matic role in obtaining international their priority sectors and maintain a support for the formation of Malaysia Ambassador Samuel then reiterated close integration with Australia as well in 1963. He also complimented ASEAN-Australia’s commitment to as adopt their best practices. ASEAN which is currently the second further strengthen relations by imple- largest trading partner with Australia menting the Joint Declaration on This programme was attended by with a USD 92 billion two-way trade. ASEAN-Australia Partnership (2015- ambassadors, high commissioners, Australia and ASEAN have worked 2019) which covers a range of ASEAN- government officials, academicians, hard together to create the right atmo- Australia cooperative endeavours in representatives of think-tanks and sphere in expanding trade and help to political, security, economic, trade and committee members from the Malay- build each other’s economy. He further investment, socio-cultural, people-to- sian Australia Business Council. elaborated on some of the technical people exchanges, tourism develop- assistance which they plan to offer to ment cooperation and educational help build ASEAN’s economy; Austra- issues. He concluded by saying that in lia will support ASEAN’s first consu- order for this partnership to be mer protection conference in Hanoi successful, all member states should aimed at supporting research and come out of their comfort zone and dialogue on the consumer protection work together. DIPLOMATIC VOICE 13