14 August 2024, CANBERRA - Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia delivered the keynote remarks at the ASEAN Day Reception to commemorate the 57th Anniversary of ASEAN and the 50th Anniversary of ASEAN-Australia Dialogue Relations hosted by the ASEAN Committee in Canberra (ACC) on 12 August 2024.

Her Excellency the Governor-General congratulated the ACC currently chaired by Philippine Ambassador H.E. Ma. Hellen De La Vega and reflected on the outcomes of the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit held in Melbourne in March 2024. The Governor-General highlighted Australia’s pride in its 50-year relationship with ASEAN and reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to continuing its collaboration with ASEAN as Comprehensive Strategic Partners.

In her remarks as ACC Chair, Ambassador De La Vega said that “a people-centered and people-oriented ASEAN Community is a commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of our peoples, embracing our diversity as a source of strength, and leaving no one behind”. The Ambassador underscored that the ASEAN Committee in Canberra will continue to advance dialogue and promote support for initiatives to help strengthen business, education, cultural and community connections between Australia and Southeast Asia.

Members of Parliament including Special Minister of State and Minister for Trade and Tourism Senator the Hon Don Farrell and Ms. Claire Chandler MP attended the reception. Representatives from the diplomatic corps, including 28 High Contracting Parties to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), international organizations, business and the think tank community were also in attendance.

The Angklung Group of the Indonesian Embassy performed the ASEAN Hymn and Waltzing Matildas featuring the angklung, a musical instrument consisting of two to four bamboo tubes suspended in a bamboo frame, bound with rattan cords.

The guests were treated to flavors from ASEAN including kinilaw (marinated barramundi in lime chili), vegetable spring rolls, balinese beef satay and sugarcane thai chicken and mango cake.

Australia became ASEAN’s first Dialogue Partner in 1974 and ASEAN’s first ever Comprehensive Strategic Partner in 2021. – END