Business chamber invites Australian ministers to visit Sarawak next year to mark diplomatic ties

KUCHING (Sept 5): Two prominent Australian ministers have been invited to visit Sarawak next year in marking the 70th anniversary of Australia-Malaysia diplomatic relations, said Sarawak Australia Business Chamber (SABC) president Rodger Chan.

The Foreign Minister of Australia Senator Penny Wong and Minister of Trade and Investment Australia Tim Pallas, he added, are also invited to attend the proposed Sarawak-Australia-Asean Green Economic Forum co-organised by SABC and the Australian Business Centre (ABC) here.

“Such invitations were extended to them during the Asia Summit held in Melbourne on Sept 3,” he said in a statement issued from Melbourne, Australia today.

Chan added Malaysia will be hosting the Asean Summit next year, and that an Asean event would be held in Sarawak, according to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during an Australia Asean Summit in Melbourne in March this year.

“Anwar elaborated that he would like Asean delegates to see the green attractions and green economy of Sarawak, as well as acknowledged and commended Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg for his leadership in Asean on green energy, hydrogen and green economy,” he said.

Additionally, Chan said next year marks the special 80th anniversary of the historic first landing of Australian soldiers in Sarawak to help fight the Japanese occupation.

He said SABC planned to hold a Sarawak-Australia-Asean Green Economic Forum next year in conjunction with the significant historic 70th and 80th anniversary of Malaysia-Australia and Sarawak-Australia relations, respectively.

Abang Johari, who is the chief patron of SABC, would be invited to deliver his keynote address at the green economic forum, he added.

At the Asia Summit on Wednesday in Melbourne, Wong stated that Australia now placed high emphasis on Asia and Asean, encouraging not only strengthening trade and relation but on investment from Australia into Southeast Asia.

She said: “This space is central to Australia’s future. This is where we need greater understanding both among analysts and commentators, and also among the polity.

“While we have a good foundation in our free trade agreements across the region, Australia‘s trade and investment has simply not kept pace with the growth of Southeast Asian economies.”

Pallas echoed Wong’s remarks and stated that their government is shifting strong focus to Southeast Asia.

This was the second time this year that Chan had met and held discussion with Pallas, added the statement.