Commitments of substance at virtual summits

Scott Morrison is expected to provide ‘high quality advice’ to Southeast Asian countries on infrastructure investments amid increasing tension with China.

Prime Ministers during the East Asia Summit in Bangkok last year. From Thailand, Prayut Chan-o-cha, from Vietnam, Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Australia, Scott Morrison, among other leaders. Picture: AAP

Scott Morrison is expected to make a string of substantial commitments at a virtual ASEAN-Australia meeting at the weekend, including an initiative to provide “high quality advice” to Southeast Asian countries on infrastructure investments amid increasing tension with China.

The Weekend Australian understands a new program aimed at helping Mekong Delta countries build economic resilience and a regional development initiative to help Southeast Asian countries implement free-trade agreements will be unveiled.

The Prime Minister will participate in two crucial regional meetings — the ASEAN-Australia Summit and the East Asia Summit — via videolink on Saturday, where he will discuss key strategic challenges such as COVID-19, the South China Sea, the Korean peninsula and the spread of misinformation.

Mr Morrison said the nations could meet the health and economic challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic by working together and committing to a “stable, inclusive, prosperous and sovereign region, with ASEAN at its centre.”

“ASEAN is more important than ever as we collectively deal with the health and economic challenges brought on by COVID-19,” he said.

Mr Morrison said ASEAN remained at the heart of Australia’s vision for a “peaceful, stable, inclusive, sovereign, prosperous and resilient Indo-Pacific”.

He said Australia had a central role to play in the region’s recovery and the post-pandemic regional order. “At the ASEAN-Australia Summit, I will discuss Australia’s role in our region’s response to COVID-19 recovery,” he said.

“At the East Asia Summit, I will highlight the importance of our collective COVID-19 recovery being guided by the principles set out in the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific — by transparency, inclusivity, good governance and respect for international law.”

All leaders will join the conferences virtually.

The summits come ahead of Mr Morrison’s visit to Japan next week to meet the country’s new leader, Yoshihide Suga, and strike a new defence deal amid escalating tensions with China.