#Malaysia & #Australia have formally elevated bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, from the existing Strategic Partnership which was in effect since 2015. @dfat has issued a comprehensive readout here: https://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/malaysia/joint-statement-comprehensive-strategic-partnership-between-australia-and-malaysia

Its a pretty significant development for one of Malaysia's oldest & most comprehensive modern bilateral relationships, one that goes back even before independence.

The only other country that I know of that Malaysia has similarly framed its relationship with, through a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, is China.

Here's a few things from the readout that stuck out to me: (1) There will be a Plan of Action for the 3 broad themes of the CSP - economic prosperity; society & tech; defence & regional security, (2) The establishment of an Annual Leaders’ Meeting to give the CSP high-level heft,

(3) An emphasis on #ASEAN-led regional architecture, specially the #EastAsiaSummit as the region’s premier strategic leaders-led forum, (4) Emphasis on UNCLOS as the legal framework for matters pertaining to the oceans/seas, including the #SouthChinaSea dispute,

(5) A commitment to upgrade the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area & review the Malaysia-Australia Free Trade Agreement, and (6) a potential MOU on cyber security & critical technology, which might underpin bilateral cooperation on "cyber affairs".