Strategic Partnership

In January 2021, Malaysia entered into a bilateral Strategic Partnership with Australia. A brief excerpt is shown below. The Malaysian Government would do well to consider the commitments that they made in signing up to this partnership, before making a decision on the future of the Lynas plant in their country. Are they true to this agreement or are they just hollow words. The full agreement can be found here.

https://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/malaysia/joint-statement-comprehensive-strategic-partnership-between-australia-and-malaysia

Here is part of the agreement.

Joint Statement on a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Australia and Malaysia27 January 2021Former Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon Scott Morrison MP, and then Prime Minister of Malaysia, the Hon Muhyiddin Mohd Yassin, warmly welcomed the opportunity to hold the first Australia‐Malaysia Annual Leaders’ Meeting on 27 January 2021 via video conference.2021 Joint Statement as follows:Elevating the bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic PartnershipThe Leaders welcomed the excellent state of the bilateral relationship. Malaysia and Australia are long-standing friends and natural partners. Both countries share similar characteristics, interests and values, as multicultural, multi-faith and parliamentary democracies.Malaysia and Australia have a shared history and look forward to a shared future. Relationships between the countries’ people began in the mid-19th century, well before diplomatic ties were established 65 years ago. In 2021, Malaysia and Australia will expand their cooperation to new horizons to address today and tomorrow’s most pressing challenges.Recalling the elevation of relations to a Strategic Partnership in 2015 and in appreciation of the two countries’ close and growing ties, the Leaders agreed to elevate relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP).The Leaders agreed the CSP will be underpinned by three areas of cooperation: economic prosperity; society and technology; and defence and regional security and guided by a Plan of Action developed and agreed between both countries.The Leaders agreed to establish Annual Leaders’ Meetings (ALMs), of which this virtual meeting is the first. ALMs will formalise engagement at leaders’ level and ensure that a high ambition for the relationship is maintained across all sectors.The Leaders noted that the COVID-19 pandemic had demonstrated the resilience and fortitude of the Australian and Malaysian people. As both countries seek to minimise the health, economic and social impacts of COVID-19, they underscored the importance of ongoing cooperation to support regional recovery.The Leaders agreed to increase consultation and cooperation on strategic issues, including the multilateral system, the stability and security of the region, and economic security issues, including resilient supply chains. Both discussed the importance of multilateral cooperation and ensuring multilateral institutions are effective and accountable to the sovereign states that form them.The Leaders pledged to uphold and support ASEAN centrality and ASEAN-led regional architecture, particularly the East Asia Summit as the region’s premier Leaders-led forum for discussion of strategic issues. They reaffirmed their support to intensify practical cooperation to enhance resilience and shape an open, inclusive and prosperous region of sovereign states. They agreed that ASEAN principles of openness, transparency, inclusivity and respect for international law, including the objectives and principles set out in ASEAN’s Outlook on the Indo‑Pacific, were essential ingredients of peace and security in the Indo-Pacific. They also acknowledged Australia’s enduring commitment to Southeast Asia, underscored by the package of approximately A$500 million in new economic, development and security initiatives to support Southeast Asia’s recovery from COVID-19, which builds on Australia’s existingA$1 billion in development assistance to the region.Prime Minister Morrison thanked Prime Minister Muhyiddin for Malaysia’s role as Australia’s ASEAN Country Coordinator for 2018-21. The region could look forward to continued cooperation and dialogue under the ASEAN-Australia Strategic Partnership. Both Leaders welcomed the decision to convene annual ASEAN-Australia Leaders’ summits, starting from 2021, achieved under Malaysia’s Country Coordinatorship for ASEAN-Australia relations. Prime Minister Morrison welcomed the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework proposed by Malaysia and subsequently adopted by ASEAN leaders during the 37th ASEAN Summit in November 2020.Prime Minister Morrison congratulated Prime Minister Muhyiddin on Malaysia’s successful hosting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings in 2020. Both Leaders welcomed the launch of the APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040 and the issuance of the 2020 Kuala Lumpur Declaration in November 2020.1. Economic Prosperitya. Trade and InvestmentThe Leaders expressed satisfaction at the strong two-way trade and investment relationship. They emphasised the importance of free trade and investment, as well as open economies and business-friendly policies.They looked forward to deepening bilateral trade ties further during and in the recovery from COVID-19, by removing barriers that reduce trade and investment flows between both countries. The Leaders committed to maintaining the trade facilitative measures that were implemented during COVID-19, and for the rollback of trade restrictive measures as soon as possible.The Leaders acknowledged the critical role of the Malaysia-Australia Free Trade Agreement (MAFTA), the Agreement Establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA), Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in providing new opportunities for businesses in both countries. These agreements, together with other international mechanisms, such as APEC and the World Trade Organization, will be able to continuously create a more stable, predictable and transparent trading and investment environment as well as business confidence in our strong economic relations. The Leaders recognised the importance of the remaining four Signatories, including Malaysia, ratifying and implementing the CPTPP. The Prime Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to upgrade AANZFTA and recognised the need to review MAFTA, which will ensure both FTAs remain fit-for-purpose as Australia and Malaysia’s economies change with time.Prime Minister Muhyiddin welcomed Australia’s A$46 million commitment to assist with ASEAN’s implementation of RCEP and AANZFTA commitments through a Regional Trade for Development Initiative. Prime Minister Muhyiddin also welcomed Australia’s A$70 million in targeted support for infrastructure policy and regulatory reforms to support the region’s recovery and resilience.The Leaders welcomed the commitments by both countries to have an annual engagement through the Joint Trade Committee Senior Officials’ Meeting as well as the biennial ministerial-level meeting of the Joint Trade Committee to discuss bilateral trade and economic issues. They also welcomed the commitment by both countries to regular dialogue on economic policy.They affirmed their intention to further strengthen the Australia-Malaysia partnership on agricultural trade to enhance mutual food security, including through collaboration on halal standards, streamlining approvals for exporters and working towards the adoption of paperless trading.