7th Malaysia-Australia Foreign Ministers' Meeting

1. Senator the Hon. Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia, and the Hon Dato' Seri Utama Haji Mohamad bin Haji Hasan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, co-chaired the 7th Malaysia-Australia Annual Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AFMM) on 12 September 2025 in Melbourne.
2. Both Ministers acknowledged the strong bilateral relations between the two nations as we mark the 70th anniversary of Australia's diplomatic presence in Malaysia this year. Ministers emphasised that both countries are deeply connected through historical ties, people-to-people connections, defence and security, and strategic economic cooperation. Both Ministers highlighted their shared interests in regional stability, respect for sovereignty, and fostering shared economic prosperity.
3. The Ministers encouraged ongoing and sustained high-level engagement between both countries and looked forward to the forthcoming Annual Leaders' Meeting.

Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

4. The Ministers commended the substantial progress made under the CSP since its establishment in 2021 and reaffirmed their commitment to continue to deepen cooperation across its three pillars: Economic Prosperity; Society and Technology; and Defence and Regional Security.
5. Both Ministers acknowledged the planned expansion of our partnership by concluding the negotiation of Memoranda of Understanding concerning Cooperation on Immigration; Transnational Crime; Education; Maritime Enforcement Cooperation; and the Authorised Economic Operator Mutual Recognition Arrangement.

Economic Prosperity

6. Both Ministers expressed confidence in the continued growth of economic ties and bilateral trade and investment, notwithstanding global economic headwinds.
7. The Ministers expressed strong interest to explore trade and investment opportunities between the two countries in pivotal sectors such as the green economy, agrifood, energy, digital technology, chemicals, electrical and electronics, and critical minerals, noting Australia's capacity to support Malaysia's energy security and transition. The Ministers welcomed progress under Invested: Australia's Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040 (Invested), including support from Australian Investment Deal Teams and recent green economy and Johor-Singapore SEZ-focused Australian missions to Malaysia. Malaysia noted the strategic alignment between Invested and its Investment Aspiration (NIA) and the New Industrial Master Plan 2030.
8. Australia welcomed Malaysia's efforts to strengthen its regulatory settings and improve the business environment, particularly in sectors such as education, energy and agribusiness, and noted the importance of the enabling environment in facilitating trade and investment.
9. The Ministers reflected on strong bilateral trade ties that exist in agriculture and welcomed the progress on technical cooperation, including under the Malaysia-Australia Agricultural Cooperation Working Group to strengthen food security, including ongoing cooperation on halal trade and ongoing work on the Strategic Halal Red Meat Partnership.
10. The Ministers highlighted the two countries' common interest in free, fair and open trade. Both Ministers welcomed growing economic integration through the Malaysia-Australia Free Trade Agreement (MAFTA). Both Ministers welcomed deepening regional economic integration through the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) and ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA). Ministers welcomed the entry into force of the Second Protocol to Amend the Agreement Establishing the AANZFTA.
11. The Ministers reaffirmed the importance of the multilateral rules-based trading system with the WTO at its core, to uphold openness and predictability in global trade. The Ministers expressed the importance of continued close economic collaboration in APEC to keep trade free, fair and open for the benefit of all our people and economies.

Society and Technology

12. The Ministers reiterated the importance of building and maintaining robust democratic institutions, supported by professional and highly motivated civil services. Both Ministers welcomed the expansion in collaboration between governments under the Australia-Malaysia Institutional Strengthening Program (AMIS), which has provided practical support for Malaysia's governance, legal and institutional reform initiatives. The Ministers welcomed the establishment of the Australia-Malaysia Kerjasama Program, which will invest $13m over four years to build on the success of AMIS by supporting strategic partnerships and deepening collaboration on equitable economic growth, resilience and governance reform.
13. The Ministers acknowledged the longstanding education cooperation between Australia and Malaysia. Both Ministers recognised the benefits of two-way exchange and student mobility as Malaysia continues to be a popular destination for Australian New Colombo Plan scholars, while Australia continues to be a popular destination for Malaysian students, including public servants.
14. The Ministers expressed a mutual interest in strengthening collaboration in transnational education, building on the successful bilateral education partnership. They also reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral university partnerships.
15. The Ministers welcomed the continued investment in scholarships by both countries, noting that Australia is increasing the number of international student places available in 2026 and is pleased to welcome more students from Malaysia, including an increased number of Malaysian government scholarship recipients at Australian universities.
16. The Ministers looked forward to the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding on school education this year to encourage and promote educational cooperation in the following areas:
    1. early childhood, primary, secondary and post-secondary education;
    2. teacher training and professional development;
    3. educational assessment;
    4. information and technology in education;
    5. educational management and leadership;
    6. technical and vocational education and training (TVET) at the school level;
    7. digital education;
    8. qualifications recognition, including recognition of prior learning and micro-credentials; and
    9. any other areas of co-operation in the field of education to be mutually determined by the Participants.
17. The Ministers welcomed ongoing collaboration on vaccine manufacturing between agencies under Malaysia's Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), and Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).
18. The Ministers reaffirmed their commitments to address climate change, including by transitioning to net zero emissions by 2050, and welcomed expanded cooperation on green shipping, maritime decarbonization and clean energy. They welcomed the progress of the Green Bunkering Regulatory Roadmap to support the establishment of green fuel bunkering in the maritime sector and agreed to explore deepening cooperation on the green economy. Malaysia appreciated Australia's bid to host COP31 in partnership with the Pacific.
19. The Ministers welcomed the growth in people-to-people ties and continued cooperation on tourism and culture. Both Ministers acknowledged the rich contribution of Indigenous Peoples and culture and the significance of First Nations perspectives. Malaysia also welcomed Australians to visit Malaysia in conjunction with the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign. The Ministers emphasised the importance of the Memorandum of Understanding on Youth and Sports in strengthening collaboration, empowering youth, and advancing sports development.
20. Ministers discussed continued collaboration on immigration and border control matters, without compromising the security levels of both countries.
21. The Ministers welcomed new cooperation between DFAT's Diplomatic Academy and Malaysia's Institute for Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR). Both Ministers recognised the value of sharing diplomatic tradecraft and capacity-building expertise, including through professional and expert exchanges.

Defence and Regional Security

22. The Ministers welcomed outcomes from the recent Malaysia-Australia Joint Defence Program (MAJDP) High Level Committee (HLC) Meeting in Kuala Lumpur. Both Ministers commended defence initiatives, including the Malaysia-Australia Future Leaders program and sister school arrangement between the Australian and Malaysian Defence College. The Ministers expressed the value of continuous engagement at the strategic and working levels. The Ministers also reiterated their continued commitment to strengthening the Five Power Defence Arrangements, which is the only multilateral security agreement of its kind in Southeast Asia.
23. The Ministers noted the importance of a peaceful and stable maritime domain. The Ministers welcomed progress on the implementation of the Maritime Cooperation Package, announced by the Leaders at the 2nd Annual Leaders Meeting in March 2024. They commended cooperation to enhance maritime domain awareness, strengthen maritime security, and promote understanding of and upholding of the law of the sea, including through postgraduate scholarships in maritime security and future cooperation on maritime domain awareness equipment and training.
24. The Ministers also welcomed the annual Malaysia-Australia Track 1.5 Dialogue for Maritime Cooperation, and the establishment of ANCORS Southeast Asia Maritime Institute at the University of Wollongong Malaysia Shah Alam campus. They committed to enhancing practical engagement through the annual Track 1.5 Maritime Cooperation Dialogue.
25. The Ministers affirmed ongoing commitment to Operation REDBACK, the longstanding bilateral maritime security program between the Australian Border Force and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, combatting maritime crime and preventing vulnerable people from risking their lives at sea. Both Ministers welcomed the review and update of the current Memorandum of Understanding on Maritime Enforcement Cooperation between the Australian Border Force and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.
26. The Ministers welcomed cooperation on the implementation of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement, marine protected areas, and sustainable ocean management, including coral reef ecosystems.
27. Ministers underscored the proliferation of threats, including foreign information manipulation and interference, economic coercion and malicious cyber activity, which pose risks to trust in institutions and social cohesion. The Ministers reaffirmed the ongoing importance of cooperation in cybersecurity through existing regional and international platforms, including ongoing work under the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Cyber Security. The Ministers reiterated their ongoing commitment to the biennial ASEAN-Australia Cyber Policy Dialogue and development of an ASEAN Cybersecurity Cooperation Strategy 2026-2030.
28. The Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to furthering cooperation on countering terrorism, violent extremism and other transnational crimes, such as narcotics trafficking, money laundering, combatting trafficking in persons and people-smuggling, and promoting safe and regular migration. They noted Taskforce TIGER as a practical example of this cooperation - a dedicated joint initiative between the Australian Federal Police and Malaysian Police Force targeting organised crime through improved intelligence sharing and joint operations.
29. The Ministers noted the shared ambition for a world without nuclear weapons and underscored the urgent need for progress on disarmament. Both expressed their commitment to the cornerstone Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). The Ministers affirmed the importance of the Asia-Pacific Safeguards Network, which Australia will chair in 2025 and 2026.
30. The Ministers reaffirmed their strong commitment to the Chemical Weapons Convention as the cornerstone of the global chemical weapons ban and a platform for peaceful chemical cooperation. They welcomed Malaysia's aspiration to host an OPCW Designated Laboratory, advanced through technical cooperation with Australia's Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) since 2013. This initiative represents a concrete investment in a safer and more secure region, free from the threat of chemical weapons.

Regional and Global Cooperation

31. The Ministers reiterated their commitment to promoting an Indo-Pacific region that is peaceful, secure, stable and prosperous, defined by respect for sovereignty and international law. The Ministers expressed their support for ASEAN Centrality and ASEAN-led regional architecture that is open, transparent, rules-based and inclusive. The Ministers expressed their ongoing support for the practical implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific.
32. Australia congratulated Malaysia on its ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025 and commended its leadership under the theme 'Inclusivity and Sustainability'. Malaysia welcomed Australia's support for its Chair year priorities, including working together to deliver the ASEAN-Australia Electric Vehicle Dialogue, New Frontiers in the Care Economy Conference, 2025 ASEAN Women, Peace and Security Summit, ASEAN-IPR Seminar on the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), ASEAN-Australia Cyber Policy Dialogue and 2025 ASEAN ICT Forum on Child Online Protection.
33. Australia welcomed working with Malaysia and ASEAN on solutions to our region's shared challenges through the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN Regional Forum, on conflict prevention, and support for multilateralism, rules-based trade and international law.
34. The Ministers welcomed concrete progress in the implementation of the Plan of Action of the ASEAN-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) and committed to working closely together to achieve its goals and objectives. Malaysia welcomed Australia's commitment to supporting the implementation of ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future through practical initiatives and increased cooperation.
35. The Ministers agreed to work together to promote open communication and dialogue within ASEAN-led mechanisms to enhance mutual understanding, reduce the risks of miscalculation, and prevent disputes from escalating into conflict. The Ministers welcomed the convening of the Track 1 Workshop on Conflict Prevention, Crisis Management and the ASEAN-led Regional Architecture, co-hosted by Australia, Indonesia and Malaysia on 10 September 2025 in Port Dickson.
36. Australia acknowledged the leadership role played by Malaysia, along with the United States and ASEAN, in mediating the ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand, and the ongoing role of Malaysia and ASEAN in supporting ceasefire implementation. Both Ministers encouraged Cambodia and Thailand to adhere to the ceasefire arrangements agreed on 28 July 2025, uphold their obligations under international law, exercise maximum restraint, and continue to resolve the dispute through peaceful means.
37. The Ministers looked forward to Timor-Leste's admission as the 11th member of ASEAN by the 47th ASEAN Summit in October 2025. Both Ministers highlighted the success of ongoing trilateral cooperation initiatives to enhance Timor-Leste's ASEAN accession preparedness, including recent research collaboration, diplomatic and language workshops. Both Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to continue providing capacity-building support to assist Timor-Leste's membership in ASEAN.
38. Australia outlined the Quad's priority areas for practical cooperation with the region, reaffirming its strong support for ASEAN Centrality and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific.
39. The Ministers expressed grave concern at the worsening humanitarian situation in Myanmar and condemned the military regime's ongoing attacks against civilians. They reaffirmed their support for the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus (5PC) as ASEAN's main reference in addressing the political crisis in Myanmar. The Ministers strongly condemned all forms of violence. They called for an immediate cessation of violence, the release of all those unjustly detained, safe and unhindered humanitarian access, and the commencement of genuine and inclusive national dialogue among all stakeholders with the view to achieving peace, stability and national reconciliation in Myanmar. The Ministers underscored that any elections in Myanmar should be preceded by inclusive political dialogue involving all stakeholders, and reiterated that elections must be free, fair, transparent, and inclusive. The Ministers stressed that peace and the cessation of violence must remain a priority in creating conditions conducive for such elections. They commended the ongoing efforts of ASEAN, including the Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair on Myanmar, in pursuing a peaceful resolution to the situation in Myanmar.
40. The Ministers reiterated serious concern about developments in the South China Sea, that undermine peace, security and stability in the region. Ministers highlighted the importance of freedom of navigation and overflight, in accordance with international law. They encouraged all parties to exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities and avoid actions that may raise the risk of accidents, misunderstanding and miscalculation. They emphasised the need for all States to resolve disputes peacefully in accordance with universally recognised principles of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). They noted that maritime claims must be consistent with UNCLOS. Both Ministers noted that it is important for a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea to be consistent with international law, including UNCLOS.
41. The Ministers acknowledged the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. They also noted that we all have a stake in conflict prevention, and the importance of open communication, reassurance and transparency.
42. The Ministers called on all parties to agree on an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, respect civilian lives and adhere to international law, including international humanitarian law. Ministers repeated calls on Israel to allow and facilitate the rapid, safe, and unimpeded flow of lifesaving humanitarian relief to Palestinians in Gaza, and for all aid workers to be protected to enable their lifesaving work. They called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages as well as for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure.
43. The Ministers strongly advocated for a two-state solution as the only way Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace and security, as contained in relevant UN resolutions. Ministers welcomed the efforts of the international community towards recognition of the State of Palestine and reaffirmed their support for the Palestinian people's right to self-determination. Ministers reiterated that any annexation or expansion of settlements would violate international law, undermine long-term peace and stability and pose a serious threat to the viability of a State of Palestine.
44. The Ministers welcomed the recent decision of the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) that Russia is responsible for the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17. The Ministers acknowledged the significance of this decision for the pursuit of truth, justice and accountability for the victims and their families and loved ones - a goal to which both countries remain firmly committed. They noted that the ICAO Council also decided that Russia should enter into negotiations with Australia and the Netherlands on full reparations for Russia's breach of international law and called on Russia to comply with this decision.
45. The Ministers discussed the deeply concerning situation in Ukraine following Russia's invasion. They acknowledged that conflict had serious implications for the region, including disruption of food and energy supplies. Consistent with UN General Assembly Resolution No. ES-11/6 dated 23 February 2023 and Resolution No. ES-11/7 dated 24 February 2025, the Ministers demanded that Russia immediately withdraw its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders. Both sides expressed concern on the deepening of the military cooperation between the DPRK and Russia, including the DPRK's export of ballistic missiles, artillery shells, and other military materiel to Russia for use against Ukraine and Russia's training of DPRK soldiers involving arms or related material that constitutes a further breach of international law. The Ministers called on support from the international community to de-escalate and end the war
46. The Ministers emphasised the global importance of stable China-United States relations. They urged all nations to maintain actions that promote regional peace, stability, and prosperity. Both Ministers affirmed their commitment to fostering positive and mutually beneficial relationships with all countries.