Disruptive Asia

ASEAN Special Edition

A series of essays to coincide with the Australia-ASEAN Special Summit

9 March 2018

Next week, the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states and the Secretary-General of ASEAN will come to Sydney for the historic ASEAN-Australia Special Summit.

It will be one of the largest gatherings of Asia’s leaders in Australian diplomatic history, and the first time Australia will host such a forum on its shores.

It is, in essence, a culmination of decades of intensive economic, diplomatic and people-to-people engagement between ASEAN and Australia. Since 1974, when Australia became ASEAN’s first dialogue partner, our engagement with ASEAN has been based on shared values of rules-based order, economic connectivity and openness. These values underpin a breadth and depth of our relationship.

The Special Summit is an opportunity to take stock of our cooperation, but also to take our partnership forward in this age of disruption and interdependence. Our shared region – Asia – continues to be a centre of economic dynamism presenting significant trade, investment and economic development opportunities for Australia and ASEAN. It is also the region that is increasingly contested strategically and more competitive economically.

Asia Society is pleased to support and contribute to the Special Summit. It is a privilege to share with you the first five essays in the special ASEAN edition of our thought-leadership series ‘Disruptive Asia’. ‘Disruptive Asia’ launched last year presents essays from leading Australian and regional opinion-shapers and new voices on how Asia’s rise is altering Australia’s foreign policy, economy and society and how Australia should respond.

Over the course of this year Disruptive Asia’s ASEAN series will present new perspectives on economic, political and social aspects of Australia’s engagement with the region against the backdrop of the changing regional order, an interconnected global economy and the rapidly growing movement of people, technologies and capital.