Canberra has expressed firm commitment in elevating its strategic partnership with Manila as it said it shares with the Philippines an aspiration to ensure a peaceful and stable Indo-Pacific region. Australia reaffirmed its dedication to work with  the Philippines as one of its top diplomats held a maritime dialogue—the third one—with a Filipino counterpart on Wednesday, July 5, to sustain the momentum built by high-level visits of Australian officials to Manila since the start of the year. In May, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced the elevation of Canberra's ties with Manila, from "comprehensive" to "strategic" as it sees the latter a "vital security partner." This time, Peter Sawczak, First Assistant Secretary of Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's US and Indo-Pacific Strategy Division, led the Australian delegation in meeting Filipino foreign affairs officials. On Wednesday, July 5, Sawczak expressed optimism about Australia-Philippine relations in the upcoming year, when Canberra will elevate its ties with Manila to "expand our work on defense and security, climate change, people-to-people ties, and economic relations." "We share a commitment to a region that is open, stable and prosperous—a predictable region operating by marine rules and norms when no one country dominates and no country is dominated," Sawczak said in his opening remark before the dialogue. "The Philippines, as already mentioned, is one of our closest regional defense partners. We're particularly proud about enduring counterterrorism partnership with the Philippines," he added. Sawczak said he looked forward to a frank exchange of views and perspectives on a range of issues of mutual strategic interests with his Filipino counterparts. That could include regional maritime threats and challenges, marine environmental issues and other opportunities that would enhance the potential and regional maritime cooperation between Australia and the Philippines, he added.