The leaders agreed to elevate relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
The leaders of Malaysia and Australia recently held a bilateral meeting to discuss issues that will help expand their cooperation and address pressing challenges.
Australian PM Scott Morrison and Malaysia PM Muhyiddin Mohd Yassin both agreed the CSP will be underpinned by three areas of cooperation: economic prosperity; society and technology; and defence and regional security and guided by a Plan of Action developed and agreed between both countries.
When it came to technology both leaders noted digital trade and digital innovation will be vital to driving economic recovery. They welcomed that, through an Australia-Malaysia Tech Exchange Memorandum of Understanding on digital collaboration, signed on 10 December 2020, both countries will continue to drive digital transformation.
Both countries felt it was important to counter disinformation in cyber space and in the public domain, which the COVID-19 pandemic has made an urgent task for all democracies. Prime Minister Muhyiddin welcomed Australia’s investment of A$13 million to support regional partners to work with technology standards-setting bodies, in order to help regional economies take advantage of technological development for the future and have a voice in emerging technology architecture.
They reaffirmed continuing collaboration, including in regional and multilateral forums, to reduce barriers to digital trade and promote consistent and open digital trade rules in the region.
ecognised that open and collaborative science and innovation will play an important role in driving sustainable economic growth. They agreed to explore cooperation on marine plastics, waste management and the circular economy. They acknowledged the importance of technology in responding to climate change and other environmental challenges, and agreed to continue to explore low emissions solutions.
They also agreed to explore collaboration on emissions reporting and inventory arrangements, environmental monitoring and enforcement, climate science and bushfire mitigation measures.
Both PMs reaffirmed that both countries will continue to collaborate on science and technology through multilateral and regional mechanisms, including the APEC Policy Partnership on Science Technology and Innovation and the ASEAN-Australia Strategic Partnership.
They also discussed the opportunities afforded by digital connectivity and the cyber domain, as well as the shared and rapidly evolving challenges. Noting both countries released national cyber security strategies in 2020, they announced their intention to establish a new Memorandum of Understanding on cyber security and critical technology in 2021, which will underpin the full scope of bilateral cooperation on cyber affairs.
