Focus on Myanmar, Timor-Leste and community building at Asean talks
KUALA LUMPUR: The Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) today will centre on advancing Asean community-building efforts in the lead-up to the 46th Asean Summit, which is set to commence tomorrow.
Ministers will also discuss the follow-up to the Asean Leaders' review of the Five-Point
Consensus on Myanmar yesterday and hold consultations on Timor-Leste's full membership in Asean.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan is expected to chair the Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting, where regional leaders are likely to deliberate on pressing geopolitical developments.
The meeting will focus on advancing Asean Community-building efforts, with a briefing from the Asean Secretariat on developments under the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC).
Later in the evening, the Asean-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Ministerial Meeting will be held, focusing on enhancing economic and security cooperation between Southeast Asian nations and Gulf states.
Other meetings taking place today include:
-The 25th Asean Economic Community Council (AECC) Meeting, where a press conference will be held afterwards with Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz.
-The 29th Asean Political-Security Community (APSC) Council Meeting would also be held to address collective security challenges and reaffirm Asean's commitment to a peaceful, rules-based regional order.
This also includes the 36th Asean Coordinating Council (ACC) Meeting.
The meetings serve as a precursor to the main summit, during which Asean leaders are expected to adopt key documents and declarations aimed at reinforcing regional unity, economic resilience and strategic partnerships.
This year's Asean Summit is expected to be particularly significant, featuring the second Asean-GCC Summit and the inaugural Asean-GCC-China Summit which is a reflection of Asean's growing engagement with key international partners.
The GCC comprises six member states, namely Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman.
Thousands of people are expected to attend the summit, and strong security measures have been implemented around the KLCC area to ensure a safe environment for delegates and participants.
The event would also feature a special gala dinner hosted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, and a royal lunch at Istana Negara.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Express
25 minutes ago
- Daily Express
Close Anwar-Paetongtarn bond spurs economic, strategic collaboration
Published on: Tuesday, June 03, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jun 03, 2025 By: FMT Reporters Text Size: Regular communication between Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Thai prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has paved the way for more strategic collaboration, said Thai foreign minister Maris Sangiampongsa. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA: Malaysia and Thailand are entering a new phase of stronger bilateral ties driven by the close relationship between Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Thai prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, says a senior Thai official. Thai foreign minister Maris Sangiampongsa said the rapport between the two leaders reflected a growing partnership focused on cooperation across multiple sectors, especially in border regions, reported Bernama. 'The prime ministers have built a strong bond. This opens up opportunities, not just in trade and investment, but also in security,' he told Bernama during the 46th Asean Summit held here recently. He added that regular communication between both leaders had strengthened mutual understanding and paved the way for more strategic collaboration. Thailand remains a key economic partner for Malaysia. In 2024, it was Malaysia's seventh-largest trading partner globally and third-largest within Asean, with total trade reaching US$25.03 billion (RM114.56 billion). Trade between the two countries rose to US$3.96 billion (RM17.65 billion) from January to February this year, up from US$3.67 billion (RM16.80 billion) in the same period last year. Both governments are committed to developing the shared border into a vibrant economic corridor, focusing on trade, investment, and cross-border infrastructure to enhance connectivity. Efforts are also underway to integrate special border economic zones to further boost trade and investment in the border areas, which currently account for over 30% of total bilateral trade. Maris described joint border development as a model of mutually beneficial cooperation. He pointed to sectors with high potential – including the halal industry, palm oil, and rubber – as areas for further collaboration. 'While both governments can facilitate opportunities, success depends on strong private sector participation,' he said. 'There are solid policies in place that can support greater business collaboration and regional development.' Anwar and Paetongtarn have maintained regular contact through meetings and phone calls. They have met three times to date: in Putrajaya in December, Bangkok in April, and most recently at the Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur. They have also agreed to hold a joint Cabinet meeting later this year at the Sadao-Bukit Kayu Hitam border area. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Free Malaysia Today
an hour ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Close Anwar-Paetongtarn bond spurs economic, strategic collaboration
Regular communication between Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Thai prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has paved the way for more strategic collaboration, said Thai foreign minister Maris Sangiampongsa. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Malaysia and Thailand are entering a new phase of stronger bilateral ties driven by the close relationship between Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Thai prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, says a senior Thai official. Thai foreign minister Maris Sangiampongsa said the rapport between the two leaders reflected a growing partnership focused on cooperation across multiple sectors, especially in border regions, reported Bernama. 'The prime ministers have built a strong bond. This opens up opportunities, not just in trade and investment, but also in security,' he told Bernama during the 46th Asean Summit held here recently. He added that regular communication between both leaders had strengthened mutual understanding and paved the way for more strategic collaboration. Thailand remains a key economic partner for Malaysia. In 2024, it was Malaysia's seventh-largest trading partner globally and third-largest within Asean, with total trade reaching US$25.03 billion (RM114.56 billion). Trade between the two countries rose to US$3.96 billion (RM17.65 billion) from January to February this year, up from US$3.67 billion (RM16.80 billion) in the same period last year. Both governments are committed to developing the shared border into a vibrant economic corridor, focusing on trade, investment, and cross-border infrastructure to enhance connectivity. Efforts are also underway to integrate special border economic zones to further boost trade and investment in the border areas, which currently account for over 30% of total bilateral trade. Maris described joint border development as a model of mutually beneficial cooperation. He pointed to sectors with high potential – including the halal industry, palm oil, and rubber – as areas for further collaboration. 'While both governments can facilitate opportunities, success depends on strong private sector participation,' he said. 'There are solid policies in place that can support greater business collaboration and regional development.' Anwar and Paetongtarn have maintained regular contact through meetings and phone calls. They have met three times to date: in Putrajaya in December, Bangkok in April, and most recently at the Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur. They have also agreed to hold a joint Cabinet meeting later this year at the Sadao-Bukit Kayu Hitam border area.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Anwar, Paetongtarn propel Malaysia-Thailand ties to new highs
KUALA LUMPUR: Thailand and Malaysia's bilateral relationship is entering a new high point, with the prime ministers of both nations showing strong commitment to strengthening ties and charting a path towards greater cooperation. Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa underscored this momentum, noting that the strong bond between Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra signals a more robust and forward-looking partnership. 'Under the leadership of Prime Minister Anwar and Prime Minister Paetongtarn, Malaysia and Thailand have witnessed a deepening of cooperation, particularly at the border areas of (both countries). 'Whenever both leaders meet, I can see the strong bond between them. This is a good opportunity for Thailand and Malaysia to work closely together, not only in trading and investment, but also in human security,' he told Bernama in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the 46th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits held here, recently. Regular communications established between the two leaders have also helped to strengthen mutual understanding and pave way for more strategic cooperation ahead. Economic ties between the two neighbours remain robust. In 2024, Thailand was Malaysia's seventh-largest trading partner globally and third-largest within ASEAN, with total trade amounting to US$25.03 billion (RM114.56 billion). Between January and February this year, bilateral trade stood at US$3.96 billion (RM17.65 billion), up from US$3.67 billion (RM16.80 billion) during the same period in 2024. Anwar and Paetongtarn have placed importance on the development of the border areas. They aim to build a thriving economic corridor along the shared border by stimulating trade and investments, as well as implementing cross-border infrastructure projects to promote better connectivity. Both sides are also prioritising the integration of Special Border Economic Zones (SBEZs) to boost cross-border trade and investment. Economic activities along the Thai-Malaysia border are key drivers of both countries' economic development, with border trade currently accounting for more than 30 per cent of the bilateral trade. Maris described the joint development of the border areas by Malaysia and Thailand as a perfect example of a mutually beneficial cooperation. He highlighted that cross-border cooperation with big potential and should be further tapped are the growing halal industry, as well as the palm oil and rubber sectors. He said that while both leaders can facilitate and coordinate the opening up of more opportunities, the results can only be achieved with the active participation of the private sectors of the two countries. 'There are good policies between the two countries that can lead to more productive engagement and collaboration of private sector, contributing to the rapid development in the areas' he said. Anwar and Paetongtarn have maintained good communication through in-person meetings and phone conversations to discuss issues of mutual interest and concern. They have met three times so far, with the first time in Putrajaya in December last year, followed by in Bangkok last April. Both of them also met at the 46th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, last week. They agreed to hold a joint Cabinet meeting at the Sadao-Bukit Kayu Hitam border area later this year.
