President Ashraf Ghani met the Prime Minister and Governor-General Peter Cosgrove.
Prime Minister Turnbull said Afghanistan and Australia had forged a “solid connection” for more than a century. “From Afghan cameleers in the 1860s, through to the Australian military effort to free Afghanistan of terrorism, the two nations have long maintained a healthy partnership,” he said.
Discussions focused on security and development co-operation to help mutual relationship in all efforts to become more prosperous, enduring and streghthened. This visit, the first to Australia by an Afghan President, reflected the strong bond between our two nations. Afghanistan and Australia share a solid connection which has been forged over more than a century of shared history and contact between both population.
More detailed information about this visit could be found from the following link: http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/afghan-president-ashraf-ghani-talks-to-7.30-during/8415616
The Afghan Ambassador, HE Wahidullah Wiassi, and staff, hosted the Afghanistan Section of the Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade at the Embassy of Afghanistan in Canberra.
Both sides discussed bilateral issues, expanding cooperation in the areas of trade, culture, education, economy and defense and enhanse these relationship through different platforms.
Mr Wahidullah Waissi submited his letter of credential to Sir Peter Cosgrove, the Honorable Governor-General of Commonwealth of Australia as the fifth Ambassador of Islamic Republic of Afghansitan.
Mr. Waissi's biography is posted here: https://www.canberra.mfa.af/the-embassy/ambassador-s-biography.html
Canberra - Embassy of Afghanistan in Canberra hosted the Co-Founder and President of the the ArtLords, Mr. Omaid Sharifi to paint a mural in commemoration of the Buddhas of Bamyan in Afghanistan, the ancient center of civilization & cultural capital of SAARC 2015/16.
This mural attracted diplomatic corps in Canberra, officials from Australian Government and MPs, students, civil soceity members, journalists and Afghan Community in Canberra to watch, paint together with the artist and enjoy the Afghani cousine at the same time.
HE Ambassador Wahidullah Waissi welcomed the participants and introduced the ArtLords, the objective behind this mural and talked about the culture of Afghanistan.
Mr. Omaid Sharifi also in a brief remarks, discussed the objectives behind ArtLords and its public messaging at strategic art context in promoting and protecting human rights, particularly women’s rights, and promoting integrity and thereby opening up the participants’ minds to non-linear approaches in an environment largely dominated by a linear development approach.
In line with ArtLords philosophy, a platform was also offered for participants to come together and discuss issues in an open and conducive manner.
Omaid Sharifiis is the Co-Founder and President of ArtLords. He is also the Millennium Leadership Fellow of Atlantic Council and Asia Society 21 Fellow. Sharifi is a Winner of Best Animation for Peace and Tolerance Award from MiSK-UNDP Youth Forum in New York, Anti-Corruption Excellence Award Winner from Ban Ki-Moon (forme United Nations Secretary General) and Afghanistan’s Social Media Award Winner for encouraging offline action in 2017, 2016 and 2015 respectively. He co-founded the “I See You” campaign against corruption, Hamdeli Network and Sela Foundation in Afghanistan. Omaid Sharifi is U.S. State Department IVLP alumni. His works are also being recognized by the President and First Lady of Afghanistan.
The Mural is completed on the same day and it is open for visitors on daily basis.
Cairns, Queensland - From 14 to 16 May, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia hosted a delegation of around 75 Canberra-based Ambassadors and High Commissioners and showcased Far North Queensland business and tourism in Cairns.
A press release was issued from Hon Julie Bishop's Office addressting the visit as an insight into the diversity and dynamism of Queensland’s economy and to better inform their home countries of the many trade and investment opportunities available.
Cairns is the economic and services hub of Far North Queensland, a vast and diverse area with a Gross Regional Production greater than $7.8 billion. The region boasts substantial resource and agricultural production – ranging from bauxite to beef – as well as significant aquaculture capacity and world-class education services. Tourism is also a major sector, with the region’s rainforests and coral reefs attracting more than 2,797,000 visitors annually.
At a Far North Queensland trade and investment showcase, local businesses were given the opportunity to directly promote their products and services to the heads of foreign diplomatic missions.
The diplomats were briefed by Queensland’s leaders in innovation, including Queensland Chief Entrepreneur Mark Sowerby, Dr Richard Knuckey who has pioneered breeding and exporting of large tropical fish, and representatives of She Flies, a company promoting science, technology, engineering and maths careers for girls through drone education.
They also visited the Cairns campus of James Cook University and learned about its world-leading work on strengthening tropical health systems and economic development in northern Australia and the region. The diplomats saw the University’s Mosquito Research facility and the Australian Tropical Herbarium and learned about research in biodiversity, tropical plant diseases and eliminating Dengue fever.
On the second day the diplomats had the chance to visit the outer Great Barrier Reef and saw first-hand the unparalleled efforts being undertaken to protect the Reef.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk hosted a dinner for the diplomats in Cairns.
Brisbane - The Queensland branch of the Australian Institute of International Affairs (AIIA) was hosted HE Ambassador Wahidullah Waissi for a keynote speech on 18 May 2017. AIIA QLD President Geoffrey Ewing welcoed Ambassador Waissi for accepting their inviration.
The main topic of discussion was about Afghanistan's Geopolitical Context, which was presented by Ambassador Waissi. Around 50+ participants from academia, civil society, think tanks, students and those who were interested to know more about Afghanistan were gathered at the AIIA center in Brisbane.
Ambassador Waissi gave detailed insights over Afghanistan's geo-political structure from national, regioanl and international points of view.
The session was ended through a Q&A session by the participants. Mr. Ewing also granted AIIA's honorary membership to Ambassador Waissi.
Brisbane - The Embassy of Islamic Republic of Afghanitan has launched the Australia-Afghanistan Dialogue platform in Brisbane on 27 November 2017. The Dialogue aims on developing new paradigm of relationship between Australia and Afghanistan, grounded in strategic discussions between the two countries, and strengthening existing ones, through people to people contact and collaboration.
A delegation from Afghanistan, Australian Government, think tanks, academia, students, activists, Afghan-Australian Community, journalists and civil society and private sector representatives participated in this dialogue.
From Afghanistan, former Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Assad Zamir, Head of ToloNews, Mr. Lotfullah Najafizada, and Head of the ArtLords, Mr. Omaid Sharifi was headed by the Afghan Ambassador to Australia and New Zealand, Mr. Wahidullah Waissi, represented Afghanistan. From Australia, Ms Krista Adams, Chair for Finance & Economic Development and Councillor for Holland Park, who had an opening speech on behalf of the Queenslad Government, Dr. Maximilian BrandleOAM, former Director for the Institute of Modern Languages, University of Queensland; and Mr. Pete Lewisis, the director of Brisbane-based consultancy Way With Words. The event was moderated by Dr. Lee Duffield, a prominent Journalist, Researcher and Research Associate, Pacific Media Centre, Auckland University of Technology, in New Zealand.
Ambassador Waissi had the opening remarks. He called the Dialogue as an initiative for closer tie between two nations. He said "Such dialogue will be an important means for Australia and Afghanistan to identify areas of greater future cooperation not only on inter-governmental level, but also to foster people-to-people awareness and understanding between citizens."
Ambassador Waissi continued: The Australian Government has continuing engagement with Afghanistan in the areas of security and economic cooperation through bilateral, regional and multilateral dialogues.
Australia and Afghanistan share a friendly and long-standing relationship. Relations can be traced back to the 1860s when Afghan cameleers came to Australia. For half a century, the cameleers played a crucial role in the exploration and development of the Australian outback, ferrying supplies across the continent. The Ghan is named in their honour.
The next wave of Afghan migration to Australia followed the Soviet Union’s occupation of Afghanistan when thousands fled their homeland. The Afghan-born Australian population is about 70,000. Afghanistan is one of Australia’s largest sources of permanent migrants.
The first diplomatic link between Australia and Afghanistan was established in March 1969, when a non-resident Australian Ambassador was accredited to Afghanistan. The first resident Australian Ambassador to Afghanistan was appointed in 2006.
Krista Adams, said: The dialogue acts as a platform for expanding the relationship and really important for us to identify all areas of cooperation whether it is inter-governmental or people to people. It is warming up in Brisbane and hope this expands to other cities.
Agriculture is the backbone of the economy that engages 70% of Afghan population. Dry land is an area of cooperation between two countries said by Assadullah Zamir, Ex-Minister of Agriculture in his remarks at the Dialogue.
"One of the great agriculture success stories in Australia has been our export and agricultural expertise, particularly dry land farming expertise. The Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QUAAFI) is an interesting project to be applied in Afghanistan." Pete Lewis mentioned in his remarks.
Lotfullah Najafizada, Head of ToloNews said: I am here today to thank you for what you have done as a country and being part of the global campaign, to make life better, to make mothers hopeful, and make their sons and daughters more ambitious for your future. You certainly made a difference.
Dr. Maximilian Brandle OAM was talking about the culture of tolerance and acceptance in the era of globalization. He said "Our laws and ways of interacting with Afghanistan must be compatible with Islam. We need to learn to interact with more successfully with the 5% of Australia’s Islamic population. Afghans were the first Muslims came to Australia."
Omaid Sharifi, Co-Founder and President of ArtLords, was the last speaker of the event. "We use art as a tool for social change, change the perception of people and their attitude and help them do something for their own communities at the same time. That really encourages critical thinking among youth in Afghanistan." said by Omaid Sharifi.
The Afghan delegation had their next stop in Sydney, where they plan to have a meeting with the AIIA Sydney Branch, participate at the War Memorial last post ceremony in Canberra and participate at the Asia Society annual conference in Melbourne, which is planned on 1 December 2017.
This dialogue aims to have its events in Kabul and Canberra on annual or periodic basis.
Canberra - AIIA hosted a roundtable event headlined by Afghanistan’s Deputy Foreign Minister, His Excellency Hekmat Khalil Karzai. It also included the Afghan Ambassador to Australia and New Zealand, His Excellency Mr Wahidullah Waissi.
Attending the roundtable was a number of prominent academics, think tank representatives and members of the diplomatic corps, including Indian High Commissioner Dr. A. M. Gondane and Georgian Ambassador Mr George Dolidze.
Mr Karzai briefed the room on the current political situation within Afghanistan, as well as on the state of affairs between the country and its neighbours. His incisive commentary was extremely well received, and prompted fascinating discussion between the Afghan delegation and those in attendance.
"The event was a great success, and the AIIA looks forward to working with the Afghan embassy to further promote improved understanding on issues pertaining to Afghanistan and Australia." said by AIIA's National Executive Director, Melissa Conley Tyler
Canberra – The first political consultation meeting between Afghanistan and Australia was held by the senior officials of the two countries on December 7, 2017. Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Hekmat Khalil Karzai was leading the Afghan delegation in this meeting.
The first joint meeting of senior officials of both countries was held after establishing their political relationship (non-resident) in 1969. Afghanistan and Australia inaugurated their embassies in Canberra and Kabul in 2005 and 2006 respectively and signed the development framework agreement in 2012.
Political, people to people, and economic relations of the two countries were discussed in this meeting. In addition, more international cooperation in terms of fighting terrorism, bringing peace and stability to Afghanistan, and the two countries’ cooperation in the international arena were emphasized.
Mr. Hekmat Khalil Karzai said, “After the trip of the Afghan President in the beginning of 2017, a new chapter of cooperation between Afghanistan and Australia started, which is a turning point in deepening relations between the two countries. This meeting reviews and follows all recommendations and decisions of that trip and all other initiatives in creating an effective relation between the two countries.”
Australian Deputy Foreign Secretary and the Co chair of the Meeting Ms. Penny Williams called today’s meeting a proper and timely action and emphasized Australia’s role in fighting the international terrorism. Ms. Williams also explained Afghanistan’s position in Australia’s politics, which was published in Australia’s last collection of foreign policy. She also mentioned her country’s support for long term cooperation.
It was decided to annually and periodically hold political consultations in one of the capitals of the two countries in order to discuss important issues like security, economy, culture, and the region.
Canberra – Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai met with the Australian Foreign Minister Ms. Julie Bishop on 8 December 2017.
While emphasizing cooperation between the two countries and a joint struggle against terrorism, Mr. Karzai said that Afghanistan supports United States’ new strategy for South Asia and is hopeful that an international consensus would be formed for supporting this strategy in order to uproot terrorism in the region. The Deputy Foreign Minister also emphasized that terrorism is still an international threat and a serious danger against peace, stability, and economic development in Afghanistan and the region, which requires long term cooperation of the international community.
The Australian Foreign Minister appreciated Afghanistan’s progress in terms of fighting terrorism and said that Australia is standing beside the Afghan people and government and supports peace and stability in Afghanistan. She also stressed that stablishing a platform for political consultation between the two countries could be a positive step for further extending and deepening relations in the future.
Mr. Karzai expressed his hope for the extension of these political consultations in different fields like security, business, economy, and culture so that the two countries could create more coordination in global issues, especially in fighting terrorism.