Hon. Julie Bishop MP, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia undertook an official visit to Malaysia on 16-17 February 2014. It was Ms. Bishop’s first visit to Malaysia since she took office since September 2013.
The main elements of Ms. Bishop’s programme in Malaysia included bilateral meeting with YB Minister of Foreign Affairs, courtesy call on YAB Deputy Prime Minister, business breakfast with Malaysian Captains of Industries with business interest in Australia, education events with Alumni and stakeholders and the Launch of Towards 2020 Scholarship.
During the bilateral meeting, both Foreign Ministers took stock of the on-going bilateral cooperation and explored new potentials for an enhanced partnership between Malaysia and Australia. On trade and investments, both sides noted the positive trend of trade and investment flows between the two countries. Australia continues to be one of Malaysia’s top 10 trading partners and vice versa. This notwithstanding, both sides agreed that there is an enormous potential to be realised under the Malaysia-Australia Free Trade Agreement (MAFTA) which entered into force on 1 January 2013.
On education, both sides concurred that cooperation in education continues to be an integral part of our bilateral relations. There are currently about 20,000 Malaysian students pursuing higher education in Australia and another 20,000 studying in Australian university campuses in Malaysia. Australia has also expressed readiness to provide vocational training to Malaysian students.
Both sides also acknowledged the good works which have been achieved under the Malaysia-Afghanistan Education Project for Afghanistan (MAEPA) despite the many challenges faced. To this end, both sides expressed hope that Malaysia and Australia would continue cooperation under MAEPA with a view to assist in Afghanistan’s nation building.
Speaking on the New Colombo Plan, Ms. Bishop reiterated Australia’s keen interest to invite Malaysia to participate in its flagship public diplomacy initiative which is the New Colombo Plan. The New Colombo Plan will essentially see Australian undergraduates to undertake one or two semesters in universities within the Asia-Pacific region followed by internship or attachment at identified companies or institutions. In response, YB Minister of Foreign Affairs indicated Malaysia’s positive interest to participate in the New Colombo Plan as it would contribute to the increase of Australian students in Malaysia as well as the strengthening of people-to-people links, especially amongst the youth of both countries. To this end, Malaysia looks forward to receiving the invitation and full details of the New Colombo Plan.
Both sides then exchanged information on the two nation’s efforts to tackle the issues of people smuggling and trafficking in persons, irregular movement of migrants and transnational crime. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment for Malaysia and Australia to enhance regional cooperation to address these issues.
Both sides further noted the long-standing defence cooperation between Malaysia and Australia namely through joint exercises and Five Power Defence Arrangement (FPDA).
On the Malaysia-Australia Cultural Exchange Programme, both sides acknowledged the success of the exchange programme in which youth Muslim leaders from Malaysia and Australia had the opportunity to be exposed to multiculturalism functions and multi-religious society in Malaysia and Australia, respectively. Both sides expressed hope that the exchange programme would continue in the future.
YB Minister of Foreign Affairs briefed Ms. Bishop on the focus of Malaysia’s chairmanship of ASEAN in 2015 while Ms. Bishop expressed Australia’s commitment to continue its close cooperation with ASEAN which marks its 40th anniversary in 2014. On regional security outlook, both sides exchanged views on the latest developments in South China Sea including ASEAN’s continued engagement with China in finding a peaceful solution to the issues concerning overlapping claims in the South China Sea. YB Minister of Foreign Affairs also updated Ms. Bishop on Malaysia’s role in the peace process on the Southern Philippines and the Southern Thailand.
Ms. Bishop’s visit to Malaysia reflected the close political ties shared by the Malaysian and Australian governments. Ms. Bishop’s visit also provided the opportunity for both sides to renew our commitment to strengthen Malaysia and Australia bilateral relations and far-reaching cooperation.