On the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the ASEAN- Australia Economic Cooperation Programme (AAECP), it is timely that a study be made to examine the state of relations between the two groups of countries and to recommend ways to improve them. Australia and New Zealand are old friends of ASEAN, being amongst the first Dialogue Partners and Defence Partners in the security of the region. Although ASEAN and Australia/New Zealand are geographically contiguous, there has not as yet been any extensive, public study which explores the multi-faceted relations between both sides, and offers concrete proposals to help strengthen these relations.

With these aims in mind, the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) has commissioned this report. It is co-authored by Mr Michael Richardson, a veteran journalist with a rich experience and deep knowledge of Asia; and an academic specializing in Southeast Asia, Dr Chin Kin Wah, who is a Senior Fellow and researcher in ISEAS. The report presents an overview of the growing relations between the countries concerned and presents detailed and concrete recommendations for enhanced economic linkages and cooperation in a systematic and thematic manner.

This report is timely as it will be issued around the time the leaders of Australia and New Zealand would be meeting their ASEAN counterparts at the ASEAN Summit in Vientiane, Laos on 30 November 2004.

ISEAS hopes that such a policy oriented report will contribute to a greater understanding of the dynamics of the relations between the two sub-regions. I wish to express our appreciation to Mr Michael Richardson and Dr Chin Kin Wah for undertaking this pioneering study and to all those who contributed towards this enterprise.