Australian Embassy in the Netherlands

And that’s a wrap! The Australian delegation played an active and engaged role this week at the 29th Session of the Conference of the States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). Ambassador French highlighted Australia's commitment to upholding the Chemical Weapons Convention. Australia continued working with a range of international partners, including from the Pacific and #MIKTA, to support the OPCW and its critical work in achieving a world free of chemical weapons.

The Australian Embassy in the Hague was delighted to host a MIKTA side event this week, in partnership with Mexico, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea and Türkiye, on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its implications for the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).   The MIKTA side event took place in the margins of the 29th Session of the Conference of the States Parties to the CWC. It built on recent OPCW initiatives and discussions and brought together speakers from government, industry, and academia to discuss the impact of AI for the CWC from a range of perspectives. We thank Ambassador Ulises Canchola (Mexico), Dr Jonathan Kwik (Indonesia), Dr Keunhong Jeong (Republic of Korea), Dr Carolyn Browne and our moderator, Pinar Gülün Kayseri (Türkiye) for their invaluable contributions to the discussions.   MIKTA is a diverse and cross-regional grouping of democracies that brings together Mexico, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Türkiye and Australia. MIKTA aims to bridge divides in the multilateral system and build consensus on complex and challenging issues, drawing on the diverse perspectives of its members and their shared interest in upholding international law and promoting the multilateral system.   Australia will continue to work with States Parties to ensure that the OPCW can respond to, and harness the benefits of, emerging technologies, including through MIKTA’s positive cross-regional collaboration.

Thank you to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, British Embassy The Hague and Ambassador Joanna Roper CMG, for hosting Australia together with NATO ambassadors and our Indo-Pacific 4 partners for an excellent and insightful conversation. Our partnership with NATO is important to our aims of international peace, stability & security.

Ambassador French and Defence Attaché Elias were honoured to recently attend the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Goirle – a Dutch municipality in North Brabant that was liberated from German occupation by Allied forces on 27 October 1944. The commemoration was a moment to remember the Allied soldiers, including Australian servicemen, who died there fighting for our shared freedom. Lest we forget.

Ambassador French was delighted to meet with the Dutch Minister of Defence, Ruben Brekelmans, and key partners (🇺🇸🇬🇧🇨🇦🇳🇿) to discuss shared strategic priorities and our joint efforts to promote international peace and security.

Ambassador French hosted the annual Australia-Rabobank Investors’ Dinner. Australia is one of Rabobank’s key markets, with over 70 branches located across the country, working with Australia’s farming communities and businesses. Rabobank’s engagement in Australia reflects our strong and growing partnership with the Netherlands, as the Netherlands is our ninth largest investor and fifth largest source of direct investment, representing a stock of AUD 57 billion in 2022 (2.3% of Australia’s GDP). This event brought together a variety of entrepreneurs and Dutch companies and identified ways to further strengthen our deep economic ties.

On 27 October, Ambassador French and Defence Attaché Elias joined others in laying a wreath during the commemoration at the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen op Zoom to honour the Canadians who bravely fought and died to liberate the Netherlands and Europe during the Second World War. We will remember them.

Yesterday, the Australian Embassy in the Netherlands proudly participated in the fifth edition of Diplomat Magazine EU ‘Wine Extravaganza’ in The Hague. Australia’s wine industry was represented by 2islandwines, providing a glimpse of the rich world of Australian wine 🇦🇺🍷 Australia is home to some of the oldest vines in the world and is also one of the most innovative global winemaking countries. We challenge traditions and adopt innovations in growing and making wine more rapidly and more widely than many other countries. This includes our commitment to sustainability, with the Australian wine industry currently on track to reduce emissions by 42% by 2030.

The Embassy was pleased to host a panel discussion on Australian-Dutch Cultural diplomacy through First Nations perspectives. This important discussion showcased the valuable relationship between the Netherlands and Australia and our First Nations people including the new National Gallery of Australia and Wereldmuseum Nguluway Dhuluyarra fellowship programme, supported by the Netherlands Government and the NGA. As the oldest continuing culture in the world, First Nations people were Australia’s first diplomats and traders. Today, Australia ensures First Nations perspectives, experiences and interests are embedded into our foreign policy, to reflect our shared and full identity, our modern diversity and rich heritage. During the event, Ambassador French and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Policy Coordinator Heritage, Culture & Development, Bina Saib, shared their perspectives on Australian and Dutch cultural diplomacy cooperation. Dr Xenia Hanusiak, Senior Policy Officer, Press and Cultural Affairs from the Embassy and Consulate-General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Australia, Professor Dr Fanny Wonu Veys from the National Museum of World Cultures, the Netherlands and Tina Baum NGA Senior Curator and inaugural Nguluway Dhuluyarra fellow, participated on the panel. Our Deputy Head of Mission, James Buttigieg, moderated the discussion. We look forward to strengthening our cultural cooperation with the Netherlands and celebrating our rich First Nations cultural heritage.

Ambassador French joined members of the Australian music industry at the launch of SoundsAustralia Australia House at the Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) hosted by Box Sociaal Jordaan. Australia is at the forefront of the global electronic dance music scene. Did you know that Australia is the third largest market in the world for electronic music and an Australian fan, on average, streams more of the genre than anyone else on the planet? This means Australia has ten times more electronic music listeners than its entire population. The launch of Australia house at ADE offers the opportunity to showcase the unique sound of Australian dance and electronic music to audiences here in The Netherlands.