From March 4–6, Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will be in Melbourne for the ASEAN–Australia Special Summit and the 9th Singapore–Australia Annual Leaders’ Meeting.

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) of Singapore stated in a statement on Sunday (Mar 3) that Mr. Lee will host the yearly leaders’ meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, with a joint news conference to follow.

“Established under the Singapore-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the annual leaders’ meeting is a key platform for the prime ministers of both sides to discuss bilateral cooperation and exchange views on regional and international developments,” stated the PMO.

PMO said, “The annual leaders’ meeting was established under the Singapore-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and is an important forum for the prime ministers of both countries to discuss bilateral cooperation and exchange views on regional and global developments.” Celebrate 50 years of dialogue relations between Australia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at the special summit. Australia is set to host the leaders of ASEAN member nations for the second time, with the addition of the head of Timor-Leste this year. East Timor’s admission as the eleventh member of ASEAN has been approved in principle.”The summit will reaffirm the longstanding and substantive relations between ASEAN and Australia, and discuss ways to deepen and expand cooperation, especially in the green and digital economies,” according to the PMO.

“The leaders will exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual concern, and on how to continue working with Australia in building an open, inclusive, and stable region.”

According to Mr. Albanese, strengthening Australia’s ties with Southeast Asia is “a priority” for his administration.

“ASEAN is viewed by Australia as the hub of an affluent, peaceful, and stable region. “Weakening our bond guarantees our mutual prosperity and safety in the future,” he remarked, expressing excitement at the prospect of meeting his peers.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan, together with representatives from the PMO and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will be accompanying Mr. Lee.

Acting Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Deputy Prime Minister, will take over for Mr. Lee.