Asean Foreign Ministers hope to finalise Timor-Leste accession papers by October
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said this was among the key matters discussed during the 58th AseanForeign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) this morning.
"We will ensure that the documentation for Timor-Leste's accession as a full Asean member is signed during the 47th Asean Summit in October.
"Efforts must be expedited to finalise the documentation so this goal can be achieved at the summit," he told reporters after the plenary session this afternoon.
Mohamad said other topics discussed included Asean's relationships with external partners, where member states agreed on the need to strengthen engagements to position Asean as a more open and inclusive bloc.
"We need to enhance this further because we require a more open Asean to avoid overdependence on any single party.
"Asean must be seen as a bloc or region that is open... One that welcomes multiple partners for engagement and trade," he said.
Mohamad is scheduled to meet his counterparts again later today during the retreat session.
The 58th AMM and related meetings, held under Malaysia's 2025 Asean Chairmanship themed 'Inclusivity and Sustainability', will feature 24 ministerial-level meetings, including engagements with Asean Dialogue Partners and Sectoral Dialogue Partners.
In conjunction with the meetings, Malaysia will also host the Fourth Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development (CEAPAD IV).
Co-chaired with Japan and Palestine, the conference will focus on initiatives to support the reconstruction and development of Gaza and Palestine.
The high-level meetings, held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) from July 8 to 11, will gather around 1,500 delegates, including foreign ministers from Asean member states, Timor-Leste, Asean Dialogue Partners, Asean Regional Forum (ARF) participants, Sectoral Dialogue Partners, and senior officials from the Asean Secretariat.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Malaysia to lead ASEAN power grid implementation from 2025
KUCHING: Malaysia is poised to take a leading role in the ASEAN Power Grid (APG) initiative, with Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof confirming that implementation could begin as early as next year. The country's advanced infrastructure and existing cross-border electricity connections position it as a key player in the regional energy integration project. Fadillah, who also serves as Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister, highlighted Malaysia's progress during the International Energy Week 2025. He noted that key decisions on the APG roadmap will be finalised at the 43rd ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM) in Kuala Lumpur this October. 'The roadmap has been presented and received agreement in principle. If all goes well, implementation will begin as early as next year, subject to endorsement by ASEAN leaders,' he said. Malaysia already has operational interconnections with Thailand, Laos, and Singapore in Peninsular Malaysia, while Sarawak is linked to West Kalimantan. Plans are underway to extend the grid to Sabah and eventually connect with the southern Philippines, creating a loop in Borneo. Fadillah emphasised the need for regulatory alignment among ASEAN member states to ensure seamless integration. The APG, launched in 1997, aims to fully interconnect the region's power infrastructure by 2045. – Bernama
Borneo Post
an hour ago
- Borneo Post
Roadmap for Asean Power Grid to be tabled in October, says Fadillah
Fadillah speaks during the fireside chat titled 'Malaysia's Role in Driving Regional Clean Energy Leadership'. KUCHING (July 15): The roadmap for the Asean Power Grid (APG) will be tabled at the 43rd Asean Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM) this October, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof. He said the roadmap was presented at the 43rd Senior Officials Meeting on Energy (SOME) held here last month, with all senior officials indicating their agreement. 'From that meeting, I received a report that all the senior officials have more or less agreed. So, it will be tabled during AMEM in October, which will help to plan out. Eventually, it will be tabled in November to the leaders of Asean. 'When it (42nd AMEM) was hosted by Laos at that particular time, I can see that it's very positive as far as Asean member states are concerned. 'So, hopefully, by the end of this year, we'll be able to come up with an Asean-coordinated roadmap. It will then be passed on to the Philippines who is going to chair next year. Implementation will start from there,' he said. He said this during a fireside chat titled Malaysia's Role in Driving Regional Clean Energy Leadership at International Energy Week (IEW) 2025 at the Borneo Convention Centre today. Speaking to reporters after, Fadillah, who is also Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister, said the roadmap will be deliberated and endorsed by Asean energy ministers before being brought to the Asean Leaders' Meeting in November. 'Once endorsed, implementation will start next year. In the roadmap, every member state will have roles and functions,' he added. He said the discussions will also cover grid connection standards and how each country will carry out the plan domestically. He noted that Malaysia is already well-positioned as the nation has committed to increasing renewable energy production either through hydro, solar, gas, or bio-energy, but the grid system needs to be upgraded to account for the new energy coming in. Furthermore, Malaysia is already connected to Thailand, Laos and Singapore, while Sarawak has a grid connection with West Kalimantan. 'In Kalimantan, they have to upgrade the entire grid system. So that they will also be connected to Sabah. And eventually, there will be a loop in Borneo. 'And it will also be connected to the southern Philippines. Then we have undersea cable from Sarawak to Peninsular Malaysia. Eventually, also to Singapore.' Fadillah also said a feasibility study on an undersea cable connecting Sarawak to Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore has been completed but alignment details are still being finalised. 'We have also engaged with Indonesia. Indonesia has no objection for us to connect directly to Peninsular Malaysia, but they have some observations when it comes to the connection to Singapore. 'For Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, we have to thresh it out,' he said. Asean Ministers on Energy Meeting Asean power grid Fadillah lead
Free Malaysia Today
an hour ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Ringgit strengthens as China economic data boosts sentiment
KUALA LUMPUR : The ringgit ended higher against the US dollar at the close today as market sentiment improved on the back of better-than-expected economic data from China. News that Nvidia can resume microchip sales to China also suggested that US tariff shocks could be managed, further lifting sentiments. SPI Asset Management managing partner Stephen Innes said the ringgit 'caught a gentle tailwind' after China's second quarter gross domestic product surprised to the upside, which is a regional morale boost driven not by American demand, but by 'China's resilience in non-US export lanes'. 'It's a reminder that Asean currencies, particularly the ringgit, can still find traction when Beijing's supply engine hums and its trade compass pivots south and east rather than west,' he added. Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Afzanizam Abdul Rashid agreed that external factors had driven the ringgit and other currencies to a stronger level today. At 6pm, the local note rose to 4.2395/4.2440 from Monday's close of 4.2505/4.2560. At the close, the ringgit traded higher against a basket of major currencies. It strengthened against the British pound to 5.7047/5.7107 from 5.7305/5.7379, improved against the Japanese yen to 2.8702/2.8734 from 2.8858/2.8897 and was up versus the euro at 4.9539/4.9591 from 4.9693/4.9757. The local note also trended higher against Asean currencies. It traded higher vis-à-vis the Singapore dollar at 3.3095/3.3133 from 3.3184/3.3229 yesterday, improved against the Indonesian rupiah to 260.6/261 from 261.5/262 and strengthened versus the Philippine peso to 7.47/7.49 from 7.50/7.51. It gained against the Thai baht to 13.0784/13.0988 from 13.1213/13.1439.
