Australia Launches 5th Asean Day Digital Campaign

By Wan Muhammad Aslah Wan Razali

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 5 (Bernama) -- In a spirited celebration of regional ties, Australia's diplomatic missions across Southeast Asia have once again united to roll out their annual ASEAN Day digital campaign, highlighting the strength and breadth of Australia-ASEAN cooperation in the lead-up to ASEAN Day on Aug 8.

Now in its fifth year, the initiative has grown into a vibrant digital tradition that unites 11 Australian embassies and high commissions across the region, including the Australian Mission to ASEAN.

The campaign offers a dynamic and visual snapshot of how Australia collaborates with ASEAN and its member states via short video messages by the heads of mission, across various social media platforms.

It highlights shared priorities across areas such as economic resilience, climate action, maritime cooperation, and education, while also celebrating people-to-people links and Australia's long-standing commitment to regional peace and prosperity.

The initiative began as Twitter-only in 2021. Last year, it branched out to Instagram, with the Australian Mission to ASEAN's account (@ausmissionasean) leading the way.

This year, the campaign includes Facebook and LinkedIn to further expand its reach to broader and more diverse audiences across the region.

Each year, the campaign begins and concludes with the Australian Mission to ASEAN.

The campaign sequence also includes Timor-Leste, whose accession into ASEAN was agreed upon by ASEAN Leaders. 

For 2025, in recognition of Malaysia's ASEAN Chairmanship, the first handover goes to the Australian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, before rotating alphabetically through ASEAN member states. 

The Australian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur highlighted Australia's enduring partnership with one of its longest-standing friends in the region.

In her video message posted Friday on Facebook, Australia’s High Commissioner to Malaysia Danielle Heinecke praised Malaysia's leadership, particularly in steering the launch of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.

"As part of the Indo-Pacific and through our role as an active member of the East Asia Summit and ASEAN Regional Forum, Australia is deeply committed to ASEAN centrality," she said.

Heinecke also commended Malaysia for its successful hosting of the recent ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting, which was attended by Australia's Foreign Minister, Penny Wong.

"This year, we have been working together with Malaysia on many initiatives, including the green economy, the care economy, future jobs, and the ASEAN Women's Peace and Security Agenda," she added.

The high commissioner noted that Australia was pleased to collaborate trilaterally with Malaysia and Timor-Leste in supporting the latter's ASEAN accession.

She highlighted that 2025 marks 70 years of Australia's diplomatic presence in Malaysia, emphasising that Australia is proud to be one of Malaysia's longest-standing partners in the region. 

-- BERNAMA