Asean-Turkiye partnership can drive regional resilience, says Mohamad Hasan
KUALA LUMPUR: As Asean navigates complex geo-economic challenges, Turkiye's expertise in areas like e-governance and technological innovation is being positioned as a valuable asset to the region, says Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
The Foreign Minister highlighted Turkiye's experience in e-governance as a vital contribution to advancing Asean's digital integration, diversifying supply chains, and strengthening collective resilience.
"Turkiye's experience in the realm of e-governance can be a great source of expertise in advancing digital integration, diversifying supply chains, and building collective resilience.
"This will help us navigate present-day geo-economic realities," Mohamad said during the Trilateral Meeting between Malaysia, Turkiye, and the Asean Secretariat on Thursday (July 11).
He added that Asean-Turkiye economic relations are set to deepen further, particularly through collaborations under the Turkiye-Asean Business and Investment Forum, alongside support for MSME development and innovation-driven partnerships.
"In further consolidating this partnership, Malaysia welcomes expanding our defence industry cooperation, as well as technology transfers," he said.
Mohamad stressed that cooperation between Asean and Turkiye is already broad-based, spanning all three Asean Community pillars, and is now guided by the Practical Cooperation Areas (PCA) 2024–2028.
"This forward-looking framework allows us to deepen collaboration in key areas, including political-security cooperation, trade and digital economy, education, disaster management, and sustainable development," he said.
He also pointed to growing socio-cultural ties, citing initiatives such as the Turkiye Scholarships-Asean Joint Scholarship Programme, training of Asean diplomats, and proposed cooperation in technical and vocational education and digital skills development.
"These efforts will reinforce our people-to-people links and nurture lasting cross-cultural ties," he said.
Highlighting shared values between Asean and Turkiye, Mohamad said both are "natural partners" in championing multilateralism, peace, justice, and equality on the global stage.
"As principled and responsible members of the international community, we should lend our collective voices towards advocating a peaceful and just resolution to conflicts around the world, including the dire situation in Gaza," he said.
He called for Israel to be held accountable for its "unrelenting violations of international law," warning that impunity has emboldened further aggression.
"If left unchecked, it will continue to destabilise the region and beyond," he added.
The Asean–Turkiye Sectoral Dialogue Partnership was established in 2017, and Mohamad noted that the relationship has since grown steadily, grounded in shared goals of peace, economic resilience, and people-to-people connectivity.
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