Special ASEAN summit wraps up in Melbourne

Leaders from nine Southeast Asian travelled to Melbourne this week, for an ASEAN-Australia Special summit.

(L-R) Leaders hold hands during the ASEAN Australia Special Summit Leaders Arrival and Official Family Photo event in Melbourne. Secretary-General of ASEAN, Kao Kim Hourn, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Pham Minh Chinh, Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore, Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Hun Manet, Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister of the Lao PDR, Sonexay Siphandone, President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, President of the Republic of the Philippines, Marcos Jr, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, Srettha Thavisin, Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmo. Secretary-General of ASEAN, Kao Kim Hourn, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Pham Minh Chinh, Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore, Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Hun Manet, Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister of the Lao PDR, Sonexay Siphandone, President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, President of the Republic of the Philippines, Marcos Jr, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, Srettha Thavisin, Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmo. Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese welcomed the arrival of leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and posed for photos at the ASEAN Australia Special Summit. The three-day Special Summit is to celebrate 50th Anniversary of ASEAN-Australia dialogue relations, with hundreds of officials and leaders gathering for summitry. (Photo by George Chan / SOPA Images/Sipa USA) Credit: SOPA Images/Sipa USA/AAP Image

Key Points

• Issues with the South China Sea, Myanmar, and climate change dominated diplomatic talks, with Australia announcing billions to advance relationships in the region.
• Since coming into power, the government has focused on its relationships in South East Asia, and has now signed a strategic partnership with all ASEAN members except Myanmar.
• President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Junior, warned against what he called "black and white thinking" when it comes to the superpower.