The new Ambassador of Australia to ASEAN, H.E. Elizabeth Jane Duke, called on Philippine Ambassador to ASEAN, H.E. Elizabeth P. Buensuceso on 10 October 2016. The two Ambassadors discussed a variety of issues related to the forthcoming chairmanship of the Philippines of ASEAN. A flagship commemorative project they focused on is the “ASEAN Women in Business Forum” and the ASEAN Women Entrepreneur’s Network (AWEN) proposal on “Improving Participation of Women Entrepreneurs in the ASEAN Economic Community,” which aims to implement Australia’s commitment to support women’s economic engagement in the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), including through its proposal to work with the Philippines to support a major ASEAN women’s business forum in the Philippines in 2017, which was announced during the First ASEAN-Australia Summit on 07 September 2016 in Vientiane, Lao PDR. Australia has indicated its willingness to provide funds for the project.

Amb. Duke thanked the Philippines’ support for the campaign of Australia to become a strategic partner of ASEAN. The Philippines was the past Country Coordinator of ASEAN-Australia relations.

Other issues discussed include the possible holding of a symposium to discuss the implementation of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025 in 2017. Australia is the oldest Dialogue Partner of ASEAN.

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