Putrajaya-Brokered Ceasefire Highlights ASEAN's Growing Diplomatic Clout, Says Anwar

Barnama

3 days ago

JAKARTA, July 29 (Bernama) -- The immediate and unconditional ceasefire agreed by Thailand and Cambodia on Monday reflects not only the strength of ASEAN's convening power, but also the constructive engagement of its partners in safeguarding regional stability, said Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
In his policy speech on ASEAN delivered at the ASEAN Secretariat here on Tuesday, Anwar, who is also the current chairman of the bloc, said such an episode has served as a vital reaffirmation of the values that have served the ASEAN region well.
'By continuing to uphold the ASEAN Charter and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, we can strengthen the peace dividend, ensuring ASEAN remains a community of trust, cooperation, and shared prosperity for generations to come,' he said.
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Secretary-General of ASEAN Kao Kim Hourn attended the event.
On Monday, Anwar succeeded in mediating an immediate and unconditional ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia after a special meeting held in Putrajaya, which has drawn international praise and put Malaysia in the global spotlight.
The US was a co-organiser of the meeting, while China, as an observer, aimed to promote a peaceful resolution to the ongoing situation.
According to the prime minister, the episode reminds ASEAN of the qualities which have kept the region at peace – patience, trust, and steady diplomacy – are the same qualities that give meaning to ASEAN's centrality and unity today.
'I have consistently underscored that ASEAN's centrality, unity, and autonomy should remain the compass in our collective journey ahead.
'However, we must be cognisant that these ethos are not a right, but a privilege we must work hard to sustain in the face of shifting regional and global dynamics. In a fragmented world, our centrality and unity matter more than ever,' he said.