Canberra, Aug. 9 (FN) — On 8 August 2017, His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd) Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia and Her Excellency Lady Cosgrove hosted, with the 10 ASEAN Heads of Mission in Canberra, a reception to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at Government House in Canberra.

Participants included Ambassadors from ASEAN Dialogue Partner countries, and representatives from government, business and academia.

Chair of the ASEAN Canberra Committee, Ambassador Kuong Koy of the Royal Embassy of Cambodia remarked, “We are honoured that Their Excellencies Sir Peter and Lady Cosgrove have graciously consented to support ASEAN's global celebrations of this major milestone. This is a clear demonstration of the deep friendship, and strong multi-faceted relationship between ASEAN and Australia, which is ASEAN's oldest Dialogue Partner.”

ASEAN-Australia relations are growing from strength to strength. His Excellency The Honourable Malcolm Turnbull, MP, Prime Minister of Australia will host ASEAN Leaders to a special ASEAN-Australia Summit on 17-18 March 2018 in Sydney. The upcoming summit will further deepen the existing strategic partnership.