Latest news with #AMM-58
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
ASEAN considers Turkiye upgrade to full dialogue partner status
KUALA LUMPUR: ASEAN is evaluating the possibility of upgrading Turkiye's status from a sectoral dialogue partner to a full dialogue partner, according to Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. He noted that Turkiye has contributed significantly in key areas such as technology, security, defence, and agriculture, while also supporting ASEAN students through scholarships. 'We are considering how to bring Turkiye in as a full dialogue partner of ASEAN in the near future, God willing,' Mohamad said after chairing a trilateral meeting involving Malaysia, Turkiye, and the ASEAN Secretariat. The meeting, attended by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn, was held alongside the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM-58) at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC). Mohamad highlighted that several nations have expressed interest in becoming ASEAN dialogue partners, but a moratorium remains in place due to the high volume of applications. ASEAN currently maintains 11 dialogue partners, and any expansion must be carefully managed to prevent overextension. The 58th AMM, under Malaysia's 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship theme 'Inclusivity and Sustainability,' includes 24 ministerial-level meetings over four days. - BERNAMA
BusinessToday
3 days ago
- Business
- BusinessToday
ASEAN Mulls Elevating Turkiye To Full Dialogue Partner
ASEAN is considering upgrading Turkiye's status from a sectoral dialogue partner to a full dialogue partner shortly, according to Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. 'Turkiye has played an effective role in several areas, including technology, security, defence and agriculture and has also offered scholarships to students from ASEAN countries,' he said. 'So we are considering how to bring Turkiye in as a full dialogue partner soon, God willing.' He was speaking to reporters after chairing a trilateral meeting between Malaysia, Turkiye and the ASEAN Secretariat on Friday. The roughly 30-minute session included Turkiye's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn. It was held on the sidelines of the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM-58) and related gatherings. Mohamad acknowledged that many countries had expressed interest in becoming sectoral or full dialogue partners of ASEAN. However, he said there was a moratorium in place due to the overwhelming number of applications. 'There are many countries that want to, have applied to and are waiting to become sectoral and full dialogue partners of ASEAN,' he said. 'But we have a moratorium because there are simply too many.' ASEAN currently has 11 dialogue partners and Mohamad stressed that any addition must be carefully considered to avoid burdening the existing structure. The AMM-58 and its related meetings, under Malaysia's ASEAN Chairmanship 2025, are being held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) over four days from Tuesday. Themed 'Inclusion and Sustainability,' the event includes 24 ministerial-level meetings, covering sessions with both full and sectoral dialogue partners. Related
The Star
4 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Vietnam proposes three priorities to strengthen Asean's centrality
KUALA LUMPUR: Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son has proposed three key priorities to reinforce Asean's central role amid rising regional and global uncertainties at the plenary session of the Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday (July 9). His proposals included driving economic growth to make Asean the world's fourth-largest economy by 2030, building a leading digital community and deepening people-to-people connectivity to advance a more inclusive and action-oriented Asean. The plenary, which followed the official opening of the 58th Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM-58), focused on implementing decisions made at the 46th Asean Summit and charting the path forward for Asean Community-building efforts. Ministers emphasised the need to sustain Asean's role as a platform for cooperation, dialogue and strategic trust. They also agreed to accelerate the implementation of the Asean Community Vision 2045 and associated strategies, calling on all Asean sectoral bodies to identify priorities and translate high-level directions into concrete actions. Particular emphasis was placed on enhancing intra-regional trade and investment, facilitating trade, expanding connectivity in infrastructure, energy grids, digital networks and diversifying external partnerships. Ministers also stressed the importance of strengthening Asean's resilience to emerging growth drivers and responding to the impacts of climate change, natural disasters and extreme weather events. Sơn reaffirmed the core values that underpin Asean's success, including unity and mutual respect. In today's volatile environment, he noted, Asean's centrality, unity and strong commitment to inclusive and sustainable development must continue to serve as guiding principles. Building on that foundation, he put forward three strategic directions: First, Asean must prioritise robust economic growth to achieve its target of becoming the world's fourth-largest economy by 2030. This involves deepening intra-regional economic integration and effectively implementing the upgraded Asean Trade in Goods Agreement, while leveraging existing FTAs with partners and expanding inter-regional linkages, particularly through the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. Asean should also capitalise on e-commerce to unlock internal trade potential and expand into new markets and supply chains. Second, Asean should accelerate negotiations on a Digital Economy Framework Agreement that meets real-world needs, especially for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. New growth drivers like digital transformation and innovation ecosystems should be embedded into Asean's cooperation frameworks with external partners to attract resources and technical support. These efforts must also be reflected in Asean's own programmes and subregional cooperation initiatives. As Chair of the Asean Initiative for Asean Integration (IAI) Task Force, Việt Nam will coordinate the implementation of these initiatives under the next IAI Work Plan. Third, Asean must deepen its engagement with the people. Beyond high-level declarations, Asean's presence must be felt through concrete and meaningful actions. The region's communication strategy should be enhanced to widely promote Asean's achievements and contributions through real stories of individuals and communities. Vietnam will soon develop a national implementation plan for Asean's strategic 2045 documents to bring Asean closer to its citizens, businesses, and localities. Sơn also reaffirmed Vietnam's support for Timor-Leste's accession to Asean and its readiness to assist the country in fulfilling membership criteria, including participation in legal instruments. He called on Asean to develop a clear roadmap to support Timor-Leste's effective integration and full implementation of member obligations. Earlier, in his opening address to AMM-58, Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stressed the need for Asean to remain proactive, strategically autonomous and united in shaping the region's future amid mounting global volatility. He said Asean's true strength lies in its solidarity, cohesion and commitment to overcoming differences through mutual respect, dialogue and consensus. He warned against the weaponisation of economic tools for geopolitical competition and urged Asean to act with clarity and resolve. Asean, he emphasised, must determine its own path with purpose, vision, and ambition. It should promote meaningful integration and stronger coordination across diplomatic and economic pillars to build an inclusive and sustainable economy. Anwar also highlighted key cooperation areas that directly benefit people, including connectivity, food security, digital transformation, education, healthcare and climate resilience. He expressed hope to welcome Timor-Leste as Asean's next official member and called on member states to support its integration not only institutionally but as part of Asean's shared regional vision. - Vietnam News/ANN
New Straits Times
7 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Malaysia's leadership at AMM-58: Shaping a more strategic Asean narrative
IN an increasingly complex and turbulent global landscape, the 58th Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM-58), to be held from 8 to 11 July 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, is far more than another diplomatic gathering. It marks a defining moment in Malaysia's regional leadership, showcasing its role as a key architect in redefining Asean's strategic narrative—one that is united, resilient and uncompromisingly responsive to global challenges. As the world grapples with intensifying power rivalries, the lingering war in Ukraine and the emergence of alternative power coalitions such as BRICS, Asean remains a crucial geopolitical and geoeconomic bloc that cannot be ignored. Asean's principled commitment to consensus, moderation and neutrality allows it to act as a credible and trusted middle power, bridging divides between the Global North and South with unmatched consistency. Home to more than 680 million people and representing a combined economy of over USD 3.6 trillion, Asean is no longer just a complementary actor to global superpowers. It is now a key influencer in Indo-Pacific affairs. Under Malaysia's 2025 Asean Chairmanship, the bloc has found renewed purpose and momentum, with AMM-58 as the centerpiece of its strategic recalibration. Malaysia's chairmanship: Steering Asean forward Serving as Asean Chair for the fifth time, Malaysia seizes the opportunity to lead with substance, conviction and strategic clarity. Hosting AMM-58 in Kuala Lumpur, the country will bring together over 35 foreign ministers and senior representatives from major powers, including the United States, China, Russia, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, South Korea, Japan and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Their presence reflects global confidence in Malaysia's ability to guide Asean through a period of complex diplomacy. Preceding AMM-58, Malaysia had already hosted the preparatory Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting on 25 May 2025. That session laid the foundation for subsequent regional summits and produced some very tangible and significant outcomes: (1) The adoption of the roadmap for Timor-Leste's full Asean membership; (2) A Malaysian-led review of the Five-Point Consensus on Myanmar; (3) The acceptance of the Draft Addendum to the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (SEANWFZ); (4) Renewed commitment to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC); (5) Early discussions on Asean Community Vision 2045 and Asean's strategic autonomy. A full-fledged agenda with strategic focus AMM-58 will feature an ambitious and tightly coordinated program such as: (1) 9 July: Official Opening Ceremony by the Prime Minister of Malaysia, followed by the AMM Plenary, Retreat Session and the TAC Signing Ceremony; (2) 10–11 July: Asean Post-Ministerial Conferences with Dialogue Partners such as the US, China, EU, Japan, UK, South Korea and India; (3) 11 July: The 32nd Asean Regional Forum (ARF) and Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development (CEAPAD) IV Ministerial Meeting on Palestinian Development. Additionally, key trilateral meetings involving Malaysia, Brazil, Norway, Turkiye, Switzerland, and the Asean Secretariat will also be held, cementing Kuala Lumpur's status as a regional diplomatic hub and a driver of multi-vector cooperation. Intra-Asean challenges: A priority for Malaysia A hallmark of Malaysia's leadership at AMM-58 is its strong focus on intra-Asean issues. These will most likely include regional security, particularly in Myanmar; weak intra-Asean trade, which remains significantly lower than external trade; hence the need to intensify economic cooperation within Asean—especially in partnership with the GCC—to reduce overdependence on external trade networks; and political cohesion in navigating global crises. Malaysia's leadership on Myanmar also drew global recognition. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's separate dialogues with Myanmar's State Administration Council and the National Unity Government marked a bold step toward inclusive political engagement. The appointment of a Permanent Asean Special Envoy to Myanmar to ensure consistency in peace efforts is also a move in the right direction. Asean under Malaysian Chairmanship also reiterated its strong commitment to Asean Centrality, the Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality (ZOPFAN) and SEANWFZ. These frameworks are increasingly relevant amid rising nuclear threats and power polarization. Malaysia's active diplomacy positioned it not merely as a neutral facilitator but as a strategic narrator with a clear and uncompromising vision for Asean's future. Malaysia as the heartbeat of regional diplomacy AMM-58 is a resounding affirmation of Malaysia's diplomatic maturity and regional stewardship. Carrying the theme of "Inclusion and Sustainability," Malaysia redefines Asean's place in the world—not just as a bloc of consensus, but as a force of action. In shaping a bold and principled narrative for Asean, Malaysia has proven it can be more than a voice—but it can be the executor of collective aspirations. Amid global fragmentation, the anticipated success of AMM-58 stands as testament to Malaysia's emergence as the true heartbeat of Southeast Asian diplomacy and the architect of a more strategic, cohesive and respected Asean.
