ASEAN must tackle global challenges together
Alongside intergovernmental collaboration, he said the private sector also plays a crucial role in overcoming these challenges.
'Amidst a complex global political and economic landscape, I stressed that ASEAN must work together to confront these challenges, particularly by strengthening intra-ASEAN trade, as we represent a combined market of nearly 700 million people,' he posted on his official X account on Thursday.
He added that ASEAN members should work together to enhance collaboration among the region's business communities.
Maris is currently in Kuala Lumpur for the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) and related meetings, including the AMM Plenary Session and Retreat Session, which began on Tuesday.
During the Plenary Session, Maris said ASEAN members exchanged views on strengthening and fostering a more cohesive ASEAN Community.
'I also emphasised the growing threat of transnational crimes in our region, particularly online scams, which undermine ASEAN's community-building efforts. In this regard, I called for stronger regional cooperation to tackle these threats effectively,' he said.
At the Retreat Session, Maris said discussions focused on reinforcing ASEAN unity, including pursuing a collective ASEAN approach to the situation in Myanmar.
'The meeting recognised the importance of achieving a ceasefire in Myanmar, as well as organising a joint visit by the Foreign Ministers of Malaysia, as the current ASEAN Chair, along with Indonesia and the Philippines, as incoming Chairs, in the coming months to explore ways to facilitate humanitarian assistance,' he added.
Meanwhile, the Thai Foreign Minister also held a bilateral meeting with Norway's State Secretary, Andreas Kravik.
Maris said the discussion focused on deepening bilateral cooperation, particularly in trade and investment, including the possibility of Norway's sovereign wealth fund - the largest in the world - investing in Thailand's Land Bridge project.
'Norway is a global leader in the green transition, from which Thailand can learn and adapt in order to help the Thai private sector move towards carbon neutrality,' he said.
The 58th AMM and related meetings, held under Malaysia's ASEAN Chairmanship for 2025 with the theme 'Inclusivity and Sustainability', comprise 24 ministerial-level meetings involving ASEAN Dialogue Partners and Sectoral Dialogue Partners. – Bernama
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
25 minutes ago
- Malay Mail
Backing Malaysian mediation, Asean urges ‘maximum restraint' in Thai-Cambodia clashes
KUALA LUMPUR, July 28 — Asean foreign ministers have called for an immediate ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia, expressing deep concern over the rising death toll and humanitarian impact along their contested border. In a joint statement, the ministers urged both nations to halt all hostilities and return to dialogue to prevent further casualties and destruction. The ministers pointed to the displacement of thousands and the damage to public property, warning that continued violence risks destabilising the region. 'We emphasise the need for both sides to exercise maximum restraint and undertake an immediate ceasefire,' the statement said. The crisis has escalated rapidly since a Cambodian soldier was killed in late May, triggering weeks of sporadic clashes that reignited last Thursday into the worst fighting in over a decade. More than 30 people have been killed so far, including 13 civilians in Thailand and eight in Cambodia, while over 200,000 have been forced to flee border areas. The joint statement reaffirmed Asean's commitment to resolving disputes through peaceful means based on the Asean Charter, the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), and the United Nations Charter. The ministers expressed full support for efforts by Malaysia, the Asean Chair, to mediate the dispute and bring both sides to the negotiating table. Peace talks between Cambodia and Thailand were scheduled to begin in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, with US officials also present to assist in mediation efforts. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said officials from his State Department are in Malaysia to assist negotiations for a ceasefire. Thailand and Cambodia previously said their representatives would meet in Malaysia today for discussions.
Barnama
30 minutes ago
- Barnama
Border Dispute: US Officials In Malaysia For Cambodia-Thailand Peace Talks
KUALA LUMPUR, July 28 (Bernama) -- Officials from the United States (US) State Department are in Malaysia to assist high-level peace talks between Cambodia and Thailand, scheduled for Monday, in a bid to achieve an immediate ceasefire, said Secretary of State Marco Rubio. 'State Department officials are on the ground in Malaysia to assist these peace efforts,' he said in a statement posted on the US Department of State website. Rubio said both he and President Donald Trump remain engaged with their respective counterparts in each country and are monitoring the situation very closely. bootstrap slideshow "We want this conflict to end as soon as possible," he said. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thailand's Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai separately confirmed on Sunday that they would attend the peace talks to seek an immediate ceasefire in the ongoing hostilities at the Cambodian-Thai border. The meeting, expected to be chaired by Malaysia's Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in his capacity as the current ASEAN Chair, will take place in Putrajaya on Monday afternoon. Malaysia currently holds the ASEAN Chairmanship for 2025, marking the country's fifth time at the helm of the regional grouping, after previous tenures in 1977, 1997, 2005 and 2015. The latest border dispute escalation erupted on July 24, with armed clashes reported along Cambodia's northern border region and fatalities on both sides. Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have been rising since May 28 following a confrontation between soldiers near the disputed Preah Vihear border area, which claimed the life of a Cambodian soldier.
Barnama
33 minutes ago
- Barnama
CIMB: National Semiconductor Strategy Gains Investor And Regional Backing
BUSINESS KUALA LUMPUR, July 28 (Bernama) -- CIMB Securities Sdn Bhd expects Malaysia's National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS) to continue gaining traction among investors, institutions, and regional stakeholders. In a research note, CIMB Securities said Malaysia's transition from a traditional back-end assembly base to a full-fledged, design-to-packaging semiconductor hub is still underway. It said the country is positioning itself as a neutral and indispensable node in the global chip supply chain, underpinned by RM63 billion in committed investments, the emergence of more local champions, and closer ASEAN alignment. 'We see this as one of the key advantages in ensuring Malaysia remains an attractive destination for semiconductor manufacturing globally,' the firm said. CIMB Securities noted that since its launch, the NSS has attracted RM63 billion in investments, comprising RM58 billion in foreign direct investment and RM5.2 billion in domestic direct investment, driven by high-impact projects. It said these investments reflect growing investor confidence in Malaysia's semiconductor ecosystem. Launched in May 2024, the NSS aims to shift Malaysia beyond a 'Made in Malaysia' model to a 'Made by Malaysia' approach, by strengthening domestic capabilities in integrated circuit design, research and development, and advanced packaging, while nurturing homegrown champions across the value chain. CIMB Securities added that as ASEAN Chair in 2025, Malaysia is leading the ASEAN Integrated Semiconductor Supply Chain Framework to harmonise talent flows, fiscal incentives, and infrastructure across the region. A memorandum of understanding signed by the semiconductor associations of Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines aims to establish a unified regional chip ecosystem.
