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Barnama
15-07-2025
- Business
- Barnama
- Welcoming Timor-Leste: ASEAN'S Expansion And Malaysia's Leadership
Opinions on topical issues from thought leaders, columnists and editors. With Malaysia as ASEAN Chair and host of the 58th AMM, Kuala Lumpur became the centre stage for advancing this crucial milestone of ASEAN enlargement. This development follows the decision made at the 46th ASEAN Summit to admit Timor-Leste as the 11th member at the forthcoming 47th ASEAN Summit scheduled for October 2025. The 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM), held in Kuala Lumpur on 9 July 2025, marked a historic turning point in Southeast Asia's regional architecture by accelerating the final phase of Timor-Leste's accession into ASEAN. During the 58th AMM, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers formally adopted the Guidelines to Facilitate Timor-Leste's Accession to ASEAN Legal Instruments, signifying institutional readiness for Timor-Leste's full integration. For its part, Malaysia played a critical role in ensuring these procedural steps were implemented effectively and with urgency. As the Chair of ASEAN 2025, Malaysia not only hosted and chaired the meeting but also underscored the value of inclusivity and sustainability, both of which are deeply reflected in ASEAN's embrace of Timor-Leste's accession. The AMM also called upon Timor-Leste to expedite the ratification of these legal instruments and align its domestic frameworks with ASEAN's existing policies. This includes acceding to key economic agreements vital for market access, trade liberalisation, and regional connectivity. The operationalisation of the Timor-Leste Unit at the ASEAN Secretariat will be instrumental in monitoring and facilitating this integration process. These guidelines chart the path for Dili to accede to ASEAN's numerous treaties, agreements and conventions that span across the three ASEAN Community pillars, Political-Security, Economic and Socio-Cultural. Malaysia's leadership and strategic diplomacy Malaysia's Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in his opening address, championed the principle of ASEAN Centrality and called for greater synergy across ASEAN pillars. His remarks framed Timor-Leste's entry not merely as a procedural expansion but as a strategic investment in regional solidarity. Echoing this spirit, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan emphasised during the press conference on 11 July that Malaysia strongly supports Timor-Leste's early accession to the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) Treaty -expected to occur during the 47th ASEAN Summit – further embedding Dili into ASEAN's peace and security framework. Malaysia's stewardship has been marked by both decisiveness and diplomatic clarity. By pushing forward legal harmonisation processes and facilitating Timor-Leste's meaningful participation in ASEAN dialogues, Malaysia has not only fulfilled its chairmanship duties but also reaffirmed its longstanding role as a bridge-builder in Southeast Asia. Regional and strategic impacts of Timor-Leste's accession Timor-Leste's accession will have multi-dimensional impacts across ASEAN, strengthening the regional bloc in several significant ways. Politically, the admission of Timor-Leste reinforces ASEAN's identity as an inclusive, rules-based and cohesive community. It highlights the Association's commitment to engaging and embracing emerging democracies, particularly those with unique post-conflict experiences. Timor-Leste, having gained independence in 2002 after years of foreign occupation and civil strife, now stands as a resilient democracy with a strong national commitment to human rights, good governance, and regional cooperation. Its inclusion sends a strong signal that ASEAN does not merely function as an exclusive club of economically developed or geopolitically powerful states, but as a community that values democratic evolution, national resilience and regional solidarity. Strategically, Timor-Leste's accession to the Treaty on SEANWFZ – scheduled for October 2025 – will have a significant impact on the regional security architecture. It will expand the geographical reach of the nuclear-free zone to fully cover the Southeast Asian landmass, closing a symbolic and strategic gap in the treaty's scope. Timor-Leste's commitment to a denuclearised Southeast Asia will strengthen ASEAN's collective voice in disarmament forums, bolster its role as a champion of peace and stability, and demonstrate that regional unity can be a powerful counterbalance to global insecurity. Economically, Timor-Leste's integration into ASEAN holds transformative potential for both the country and the regional bloc. With a population of approximately 1.3 million and abundant natural resources – including oil and gas – Timor-Leste represents an emerging frontier market in Southeast Asia. Its accession will expand ASEAN's internal market, encouraging greater intra-ASEAN trade, investment and development cooperation. ASEAN has already committed to providing technical assistance and policy support to ensure Timor-Leste's smooth transition into the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). This includes facilitating its accession to key agreements such as the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA), ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services (AFAS) and other relevant protocols. Socially and culturally, Timor-Leste's inclusion adds linguistic and cultural diversity, enriching ASEAN's socio-cultural exchanges and reinforcing its motto of 'One Vision, One Identity, One Community.' As the 47th ASEAN Summit approaches in October 2025, the full admission of Timor-Leste into ASEAN stands not only as a diplomatic formality but as a powerful affirmation of ASEAN's commitment to inclusivity, unity, and future-oriented cooperation. Malaysia, through its strategic leadership and diplomatic agility, has played an indispensable role in realising this regional aspiration. -- BERNAMA Assoc Prof Dr Nazariah Osman is the Dean of School of International Studies, College of Law, Government and International Studies, Universiti Utara Malaysia.
Malaysian Reserve
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Malaysian Reserve
ASEAN boosts social resilience with focus on skills, climate, and care economy
by AUFA MARDHIAH ASEAN is stepping up efforts to build a more inclusive and people-centred region by investing in human development, health, culture and climate resilience under the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) pillar. In a joint communiqué following the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting, the bloc reaffirmed its focus on data-driven policymaking and collaboration across sectors. This includes the rollout of a new platform on the care economy. 'It will explore the valuation of care work, the implications of demographic shifts, and the development of sustainable care policies,' it said. Ministers also expressed strong support for growing ASEAN's cultural and creative economy. They welcomed the new sustainability framework for creative industries and looked forward to adopting the Melaka Declaration. 'Cultural heritage has the potential to promote economic growth, social cohesion, cultural preservation and sustainability,' it said. Addressing the growing concerns over disinformation, ASEAN reiterated its commitment to building a safer digital environment. The communiqué noted regional efforts to 'strengthen ASEAN's cohesion and mutual understanding, enhance cooperation in combating fake news and disinformation, and promote the safe and responsible use of social media platforms.' On future skills, Malaysia is leading the ASEAN Year of Skills 2025. The region is also expanding green jobs training and preparing a ministerial action plan to help workers adapt to rapid changes in labour markets, especially through AI and sustainability-focused upskilling. The bloc also reaffirmed its commitment to protecting migrant workers, pledging to promote fair recruitment and better reintegration systems, while acknowledging 'the principle of shared and balanced responsibilities of the receiving and sending ASEAN Member States.' Health security remained a priority, with ASEAN aiming to improve regional drug and vaccine self-reliance under the ASEAN Declaration of Commitment on Drug Security and Self-Reliance. It also supported wider access to diagnostics and efforts to tackle malnutrition and ageing through nutrition plans and active ageing strategies. On disaster preparedness, ASEAN committed to strengthening the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER) framework and continuing humanitarian support through the AHA Centre. Ministers commended the centre's rapid response following the March 2025 earthquake in Myanmar. 'It played a vital role in coordinating humanitarian assistance, supporting and facilitating relief operations, and ensuring timely and effective humanitarian response,' they said. The communiqué also emphasised stronger regional climate action, including the operationalisation of the ASEAN Centre for Climate Change and preparing a joint statement ahead of COP30. 'We reaffirmed our collective commitment to jointly addressing the global challenge of climate change,' it said. Other focus areas include gender equality, disability inclusion, child protection and rural development. The ASEAN Villages Network and the One Village One Product initiative were highlighted as efforts to reduce urban-rural disparities and boost community-based growth. The bloc is also preparing a declaration on future-ready public service, aiming to make ASEAN governance more digital, ethical and people-centric. These efforts reflect ASEAN's long-term vision for a united, resilient and sustainable community by 2045.
Japan Today
11-07-2025
- Business
- Japan Today
Rubio meets China's Wang amid trade tensions, says good chance of Trump-Xi talks
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi during the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers? meeting and related meetings at the Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur on July 11, 2025. MANDEL NGAN/Pool via REUTERS By Daphne Psaledakis and Danial Azhar U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday he had "positive and constructive" talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, as the two major powers vied to push their agendas in Asia at a time of tension over Washington's tariff offensive. The top U.S. diplomat was in Malaysia on his first Asia trip since taking office, seeking to stress the U.S. commitment to the region at the East Asia Summit and ASEAN Regional Forum, where many countries were reeling from a raft of steep U.S. tariffs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump this week. Rubio had his first in-person talks with China's foreign minister, which came after Beijing warned Washington against reinstating hefty levies on its goods next month and threatened retaliation against nations that strike deals with the U.S. to cut China out of supply chains. Wang sharply criticised Washington during talks with Asian counterparts in Malaysia, calling the U.S. tariffs "typical unilateral bullying behavior". But both sides described their bilateral meeting as positive and constructive on Friday. And Rubio said the odds of Trump meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping were high. "We're two big, powerful countries, and there are always going to be issues that we disagree on. I think there's some areas of potential cooperation and I thought it was a very constructive, positive meeting, and a lot of work to do," he told reporters. Rubio emphasised that his sit-down with Wang was not a negotiation, but rather about establishing a constructive baseline to continue talks. Rubio noted Trump had been invited to visit China, and added: "It's a visit he wants to undertake, and so we'll work on finding the right date for that, but I'm sure it'll happen because the president – both presidents - want it to happen." "We have to build the right atmosphere and build ... deliverables, so that a visit isn't just a visit, but it actually has some takeaways from it that are concrete," he said. China's Foreign Ministry said Wang had emphasised that both countries should translate consensus reached by their leaders into policies and actions. "Both sides agreed that the meeting was positive, pragmatic and constructive," it said. TRIP OVERSHADOWED BY TARIFFS Rubio's visit was part of an effort to renew U.S. focus on the Indo-Pacific region and look beyond conflicts in the Middle East and Europe that have consumed much of the administration's attention since Trump's return to office in January. But this was overshadowed by this week's announcement of steep U.S. tariffs on imports from many Asian countries and U.S. allies, including 25% targeting Japan, South Korea and Malaysia, 32% for Indonesia, 36% for Thailand and Cambodia and 40% on goods from Myanmar and Laos. China, initially singled out with levies exceeding 100%, has until August 12 to reach a deal with Washington to avoid Trump's reinstating additional import curbs imposed during tit-for-tat tariff exchanges in April and May. Analysts said Rubio would use the trip to press the case that the United States remains a better partner than China, Washington's main strategic rival. Rubio met his counterparts from Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Indonesia on Friday. Southeast Asia expert Murray Hiebert, from Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies, said it was positive Rubio had made his first Indo-Pacific trip, but his pledge about U.S. engagement was undercut by Trump's treatment of key friends and partners on tariffs. "This made it much easier for Wang Yi to talk about China's stable and reliable economic relations," he said. Wang rebuked the United States in Kuala Lumpur, saying no country should support or agree with its tariffs, according to remarks released by Beijing on Friday. He told Thailand's foreign minister the tariffs had been abused and "undermined the free trade system, and interfered with the stability of the global production and supply chain." During a meeting with his Cambodian counterpart, Wang said the U.S. levies were an attempt to deprive Southeast Asian countries of their legitimate right to development. "We believe that Southeast Asian countries have the ability to cope with complex situations, adhere to principled positions, and safeguard their own interests," he said. In a joint communique, ASEAN foreign ministers expressed concern over rising global trade tensions and called for a transparent and fair multilateral trading system. Without mentioning the United States, they said unilateral tariffs were "counterproductive and risk exacerbating global economic fragmentation". INDISPENSABLE PARTNERSHIP Rubio also met Russia's Foreign Affairs Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday and said he and Lavrov shared some ideas on a new or different Russian approach on Ukraine. "I don't want to oversell it, OK, but it was constructive," he said on Friday. "We'll find out, but there are some things that we will potentially explore, and I relayed that to the president and our team last night." Rubio also met Japan's foreign minister and South Korea's first vice foreign minister to discuss strengthening their "indispensable trilateral partnership", the U.S. State Department said. Asked about Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's remarks on Thursday that Tokyo needs to wean itself off of its dependence on Washington, Rubio said it was not a comment to be viewed negatively. "We obviously have very strong commitments and an alliance with Japan. We continue to cooperate very closely with them," he said. © Thomson Reuters 2025.
Express Tribune
11-07-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
US, China hold ‘positive' talks in Malaysia during ASEAN meeting
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi during the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers? meeting and related meetings at the Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur on July 11, 2025. PHOTO:REUTERS Listen to article US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chinese top diplomat Wang Yi had a "positive" meeting in Malaysia on Friday, both sides said, in an apparent bid to ease tensions between the rival powers. Rubio and Wang's first face-to-face meeting since US President Donald Trump returned to office came as Washington and Beijing are locked in disputes ranging from trade to Taiwan – and both countries vie for greater influence in the region. "I thought it was a very constructive and positive meeting," Rubio told reporters after the hour-long talks in capital Kuala Lumpur, but he stressed: "It was not a negotiation." "I think we left it feeling as there's some areas we're gonna be able to work together on." Rubio was also optimistic that a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping would happen. "There's a strong desire on both sides to do it," Rubio said, adding no date was set. Read More:Trump slaps extra 10% tariffs on BRICS nations Beijing said in a statement "both sides agreed that the meeting was positive, pragmatic and constructive". Both countries agreed to "enhance communication and dialogue through diplomatic channels... and explore expanding cooperation areas while managing differences," China's foreign ministry said. The sit-down between Wang and Rubio, a longtime China hawk, came as Asian foreign ministers wrapped up three days of talks at an Association of Southeast Asian Nations gathering in Kuala Lumpur. Top diplomats from Russia, the European Union, Australia, Britain and Canada also attended. US officials said ahead of Rubio's first trip to the region as secretary of state that Washington was "prioritising" its commitment to East and Southeast Asia. While US tariffs overshadowed the gathering, Rubio said he was "warmly received" by Asian partners as he sought to placate concerns over the duties. "If you look at some of these trade deficits, they're massive. That has to be addressed," Rubio said at the end of his whirlwind trip. "Everybody here is a mature leader who understands that that's not sustainable." Trump has threatened punitive tariffs ranging from 20 to 50 percent against more than 20 countries, many in Asia, if they do not strike deals with Washington by August 1. ASEAN described the tariffs as "counterproductive" and a threat to regional growth, according to a joint statement released Friday. Long-time US ally Japan faces a 25 percent across-the-board levy, separate from similar charges already imposed on cars, steel and aluminium. South Korea faces a similar tariff. Rubio met his Japanese and South Korean counterparts on Friday, with his spokeswoman Tammy Bruce calling it an "indispensable relationship". Wang told Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim earlier Friday that Washington's "unilateral imposition of high tariffs is irresponsible and unpopular," according to a foreign ministry statement. Malaysia's Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan told a closing news conference the ASEAN meeting mentioned "each country's concerns respectively" regarding tariffs. Read More:Dar meets world leaders on sidelines of ASEAN forum Tensions between the United States and China have ratcheted up since Trump took office in January, with both countries engaging in a tariff war that briefly sent duties on each other's exports sky-high. Washington hit China with additional levies of 145 percent on its goods as both sides engaged in tit-for-tat escalation, while China's countermeasures on US goods reached 125 percent. Beijing and Washington agreed in May to temporarily slash the staggering tariffs – an outcome Trump dubbed a "total reset". However, deep mistrust remains between the two countries, with each suspecting the other of trying to weaken its influence. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth accused China in late May of "credibly preparing to potentially use military force to alter the balance of power" in the Asia-Pacific region. He also claimed that Beijing "trains every day" to invade self-ruled Taiwan, which China claims as part of its territory. In response, Chinese diplomats accused the United States of using the Taiwan issue to "contain China" and called on Washington to stop "playing with fire.'
Borneo Post
11-07-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
US, China have 'positive' meeting at Asean foreign minister talks in KL
Rubio (left) meets with Wang (right) during the 58th Asean Foreign Ministers' meeting and related meetings at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on July 11, 2025. – AFP photo KUALA LUMPUR (July 11): US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chinese top diplomat Wang Yi had a 'positive' meeting in Malaysia on Friday, both sides said, in an apparent bid to ease tensions between the rival powers. Rubio and Wang's first face-to-face meeting since US President Donald Trump returned to office came as Washington and Beijing are locked in disputes ranging from trade to Taiwan — and both countries vie for greater influence in the region. 'I thought it was a very constructive and positive meeting,' Rubio told reporters after the hour-long talks in capital Kuala Lumpur, but he stressed: 'It was not a negotiation.' 'I think we left it feeling as there's some areas we're gonna be able to work together on.' Rubio was also optimistic that a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping would happen. 'There's a strong desire on both sides to do it,' Rubio said, adding no date was set. Beijing said in a statement 'both sides agreed that the meeting was positive, pragmatic and constructive'. Both countries agreed to 'enhance communication and dialogue through diplomatic channels… and explore expanding cooperation areas while managing differences,' China's foreign ministry said. The sit-down between Wang and Rubio, a longtime China hawk, came as Asian foreign ministers wrapped up three days of talks at an Association of Southeast Asian Nations gathering in Kuala Lumpur. Top diplomats from Russia, the European Union, Australia, Britain and Canada also attended. 'Not sustainable' US officials said ahead of Rubio's first trip to the region as secretary of state that Washington was 'prioritising' its commitment to East and Southeast Asia. While US tariffs overshadowed the gathering, Rubio said he was 'warmly received' by Asian partners as he sought to placate concerns over the duties. 'If you look at some of these trade deficits, they're massive. That has to be addressed,' Rubio said at the end of his whirlwind trip. 'Everybody here is a mature leader who understands that that's not sustainable.' Trump has threatened punitive tariffs ranging from 20 to 50 per cent against more than 20 countries, many in Asia, if they do not strike deals with Washington by August 1. Asean described the tariffs as 'counterproductive' and a threat to regional growth, according to a joint statement released Friday. Long-time US ally Japan faces a 25 per cent across-the-board levy, separate from similar charges already imposed on cars, steel and aluminium. South Korea faces a similar tariff. Rubio met his Japanese and South Korean counterparts on Friday, with his spokeswoman Tammy Bruce calling it an 'indispensable relationship'. Wang told Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim earlier Friday that Washington's 'unilateral imposition of high tariffs is irresponsible and unpopular,' according to a foreign ministry statement. Malaysia's Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan told a closing news conference the Asean meeting mentioned 'each country's concerns respectively' regarding tariffs. Tensions between the United States and China have ratcheted up since Trump took office in January, with both countries engaging in a tariff war that briefly sent duties on each other's exports sky-high. Deep mistrust Washington hit China with additional levies of 145 per cent on its goods as both sides engaged in tit-for-tat escalation, while China's countermeasures on US goods reached 125 per cent. Beijing and Washington agreed in May to temporarily slash the staggering tariffs — an outcome Trump dubbed a 'total reset'. However, deep mistrust remains between the two countries, with each suspecting the other of trying to weaken its influence. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth accused China in late May of 'credibly preparing to potentially use military force to alter the balance of power' in the Asia-Pacific region. He also claimed that Beijing 'trains every day' to invade self-ruled Taiwan, which China claims as part of its territory. In response, Chinese diplomats accused the United States of using the Taiwan issue to 'contain China' and called on Washington to stop 'playing with fire'. – AFP Asean Summit China meeting Rubio talks us Wang
