Australia’s destiny lies in South-East Asia, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will tell regional leaders on the final day of an international summit.

Albanese will outline commitments worth $61.5 million to strengthen connections at the ASEAN-Australia Summit in Melbourne on Wednesday.

The package includes funding for a cultural centre, university scholarships, professional placements and cooperation on energy.

English language training will be provided for people in Timor Leste as the small nation works towards joining the key regional bloc.

“More than any other part of the world, South-East Asia is where Australia’s destiny lies,” Albanese will say.

“This is why we will continue to support your ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and ensure the stability and peace of our region.”

Australia is committed to upholding sovereignty, territorial integrity, equality and independence, Albanese will say.

“The regional architecture, with ASEAN at its centre, is vital in pursuing these goals, and for promoting trust and transparency among our nations,” his speech will say.

Australia will promise $36.7 million towards creating an ASEAN-Australia Centre in Canberra to build on business, cultural, education and community ties.

Some $12.9 million will be spent on 55 new fellowships for officials from ASEAN member states and Timor-Leste, in addition to $6.9 million on creating an ASEAN Centre for Climate Change in Brunei.

Other education programs are part of the announcement, including English language training for Timor-Leste to support its path to full ASEAN membership and 75 new scholarships for emerging leaders to study in Australia.

While there had been differing views among leaders at the summit on how best to deal with Chinese aggression in the region, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said ASEAN leaders were united on stability.

“Rather than thinking about what might or might not happen, we should focus on what we want to protect, what we want to ensure, what we want to assure in order to preserve peace, stability and prosperity,” she told ABC TV on Wednesday.

“One of things we all want to ensure continues to operate is the legal law of the sea, the legal norms and principles that ensure that there is freedom of navigation, that trade can continue to operate unimpeded.”

All leaders gathered as a group for the first time late on Tuesday for the traditional “family photo”, holding hands with arms crossed.

That was followed by a reception with leaders’ partners, ministers, dignitaries and business heavyweights that featured a performance from Australian singer Jessica Mauboy.

A young child participating in the Welcome to Country approached Albanese, sitting at the Prime Minister’s feet and chatting to him during the ceremony.

Over the course of the summit Australia has committed more than $2 billion to promote business ties and in excess of $277 million to international development, regional security and measures to combat climate change.

– AAP