VERBATIM TEXT: OPENING REMARKS BY THE HONOURABLE DATO’ SERI ANWAR BIN IBRAHIM PRIME MINISTER OF MALAYSIA AT THE 5TH ASEAN – AUSTRALIA SUMMIT

VERBATIM TEXT: OPENING REMARKS BY

THE HONOURABLE DATO' SERI ANWAR BIN IBRAHIM

PRIME MINISTER OF MALAYSIA

AT THE

5TH ASEAN - AUSTRALIA SUMMIT

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese,

Prime Minister of Australia,

Your Majesty, Excellencies,

Of course we are honoured to welcome you in particular and your delegation and we are doubly honoured to be the host. So let me express my appreciation for Australia's generally unwavering support for Malaysia's ASEAN Chairmanship under the theme "Inclusivity and Sustainability".

As ASEAN First Dialogue Partner, I think this needs to be reminded, after all this controversy about Asian policy or ASEAN policy in Australia, but still on record, you are the first dialogue partner and a strong supporter of the community. And you are also the first dialogue partner to express support in the implementation of the ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future. And then we have seen significant achievements together from the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in 2020, Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) in 2021, upgrade of the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area in 2023 and 50th anniversary celebration in 2024.

So, the meeting today is, of course, a great opportunity to exchange views and to listen to my colleagues and you yourself, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to be able to secure ways to not only navigate but to enhance this relationship.

And I am very optimistic, because the people-to-people connection with Australia among ASEAN countries is huge. Students, business, researchers, and tourists.

So now, on behalf of my colleagues, may I invite you, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, to deliver your opening remarks.

Prime Minister's Office OF MALAYSIA

27 OCT 2025 - AUSTRALIA SUMMIT