Australia - ASEAN: Strengthening cooperation on climate change and security

On March 4, the Australian Government announced that it will strengthen cooperation with ASEAN through a new program called the “Clean Energy and Climate Window” worth 10 million AUD (about 6.51 million USD). Australia will also invest 64 million AUD (41.8 million USD) over the next 4 years to contribute to ensuring security and prosperity in the region.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong (right) speaks at the Maritime Cooperation Forum within the framework of the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit. Photo: REUTERS

Prioritize clean energy

Announced at the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Melbourne on 4 March, the Clean Energy and Climate Window will provide multi-year funding for climate and clean energy programs, including technical capacity building; ensuring Australia and ASEAN countries share expertise and learn from each other. Building on existing collaboration, the program will enable Australian Federal, State and Territory Government agencies to expand and maintain long-term relationships with Southeast Asian partners on climate change and clean energy transition. The program will also include flexible funding to meet the requirements of partner countries.

The Clean Energy and Climate Window is the first initiative designed under the “Australia-Southeast Asian Government Partnership” program, announced by the Anthony Albanese government in 2023. The program will also support the implementation of Australia’s “Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040”, which recognizes the important role of government-to-government partnerships and the opportunities and challenges of the clean energy transition.

Also at the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced that Australia will invest an additional AU$222.5 million (about 145 million USD) to support the resilience and prosperity of the Mekong sub-region in Southeast Asia through the Mekong-Australia Partnership. The second phase of funding over the next five years will address shared priorities and challenges with a focus on improving water security, responding to climate change and combating transnational crime.

Security cooperation

On the same day, speaking at the Maritime Cooperation Forum within the framework of the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said that the country could increase funding to promote maritime security cooperation with ASEAN countries in the context of complicated developments in the regional security situation. According to Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Australia will invest a total of 64 million AUD (41.8 million USD) in the next 4 years, including a newly committed 40 million AUD to contribute to ensuring security and prosperity in the region, in line with the priorities of Southeast Asian countries. Ms. P. Wong said that free and open sea routes in the East Sea play a very important role in the region's trade.

Also at the forum, Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo emphasized that the East Sea has strategic importance and offers a promising future. However, he said that this future can only be guaranteed if countries in the region are determined to "maintain cooperation instead of confrontation and dialogue instead of using or threatening to use force."

Before the plenary session with the participation of ASEAN and Australian leaders, many meetings took place on March 4 and 5 with four thematic tracks: maritime, green economy, climate forum and clean energy transition.

KHANH MINH compiled

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/australia-asean-tang-cuong-hop-tac-ve-bien-doi-khi-hau-va-an-ninh-post729272.html