Latest news with #ASEAN-level
The Sun
26-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
ASEAN Summit to discuss US tariff issues at bilateral level -- Amir Hamzah
KUALA LUMPUR: The 46th ASEAN Summit taking place today and tomorrow at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) will discuss the United States' (US) tariff issue at the bilateral level and between heads of state, said Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan. He said the ASEAN Summit provides an opportunity for all ASEAN countries, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and China to discuss regional issues, strengthen ties and increase trade. 'In addition, there are many issues that exist now, but the priority in ASEAN is to resolve the issues in Myanmar, and we have a solution where Malaysia is taking an important role to bring Myanmar back to the path that we all want. 'And I think the cooperation between ASEAN and the GCC, as well as China, where we have an opportunity to build a bloc that can trade more together,' he told the media after officiating the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA) International Accountants Conference 2025 here today. The 46th ASEAN Summit, organised under Malaysia's ASEAN Chairmanship 2025 with the theme, 'Inclusivity and Sustainability', is also the fifth time since Malaysia chaired the regional bloc in 1977, 1997, 2005 and 2015. The ASEAN Summit and related meetings are expected to discuss several pressing regional and international issues, with the crisis in Myanmar remaining a major concern for ASEAN member states. Besides the ASEAN-level meeting, the summit will also feature two important inter-regional platforms, the 2nd ASEAN-GCC Summit and the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit, demonstrating the increasing cooperation between Southeast Asia and its strategic partners in the Gulf and China.
The Sun
26-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
ASEAN Summit to discuss US tariff issues at bilateral level
KUALA LUMPUR: The 46th ASEAN Summit taking place today and tomorrow at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) will discuss the United States' (US) tariff issue at the bilateral level and between heads of state, said Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan. He said the ASEAN Summit provides an opportunity for all ASEAN countries, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and China to discuss regional issues, strengthen ties and increase trade. 'In addition, there are many issues that exist now, but the priority in ASEAN is to resolve the issues in Myanmar, and we have a solution where Malaysia is taking an important role to bring Myanmar back to the path that we all want. 'And I think the cooperation between ASEAN and the GCC, as well as China, where we have an opportunity to build a bloc that can trade more together,' he told the media after officiating the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA) International Accountants Conference 2025 here today. The 46th ASEAN Summit, organised under Malaysia's ASEAN Chairmanship 2025 with the theme, 'Inclusivity and Sustainability', is also the fifth time since Malaysia chaired the regional bloc in 1977, 1997, 2005 and 2015. The ASEAN Summit and related meetings are expected to discuss several pressing regional and international issues, with the crisis in Myanmar remaining a major concern for ASEAN member states. Besides the ASEAN-level meeting, the summit will also feature two important inter-regional platforms, the 2nd ASEAN-GCC Summit and the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit, demonstrating the increasing cooperation between Southeast Asia and its strategic partners in the Gulf and China.
Malaysian Reserve
26-05-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Malaysia steers ASEAN Community Vision 2045 toward global relevance
It is supported by 4 strategic plans: Political-security, economic, socio-cultural and connectivity by SHAUQI WAHAB MALAYSIA is expected to direct ASEAN's engagement on peace, cooperation and resilience under the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 toward greater involvement in global affairs while reinforcing its foundational principle of neutrality during the 46th ASEAN Summit. This year marks Malaysia's fifth tenure as ASEAN chair, drawing around 20,000 participants, including delegates, staff and support personnel, to discuss regional cooperation and strategic initiatives. The Asean Community Vision 2045 is supported by four strategic plans: Political-security, economic, socio-cultural and connectivity. These plans aim to deepen regional integration, enhance economic resilience and address various challenges. Focusing on ASEAN centrality and global neutrality, Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research senior fellow Dr Azmi Hassan said Malaysia's priorities go beyond trade and economy. While Prime Minister (PM) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had stressed economic matters as a priority, Azmi believes the broader objective is strengthening ASEAN centrality and its global relevance. 'I think ASEAN centrality will be the main focus. Anwar as the chairman wants ASEAN to be more involved in what is happening not only within ASEAN, but outside of it,' he told The Malaysian Reserve (TMR). This ambition has already been evident in Anwar's diplomatic engagements, such as offering Malaysia's mediator role in international conflicts like the India-Pakistan dispute and expressing concern over crises in Gaza and Ukraine. Anwar (right) meets Xi to uphold Malaysia's and ASEAN's neutrality, despite external pressure (pic: MEDIA MULIA) Respectable Organisation Azmi said this represents Malaysia's intent to elevate ASEAN's status as a very respectable organisation, capable of constructive engagement in global issues. However, the Myanmar conflict remains a sore point for the bloc. Despite Anwar's meeting with the Myanmar military junta during a visit to Thailand and receiving verbal assurances of a ceasefire, the continued aggression by the junta has undermined ASEAN's collective peace efforts. 'So, I would say that this issue will not be a priority, because the junta will not be present. Whatever ASEAN decided, for example the Five-Point Consensus for Myanmar to return to democracy a few years ago, was never respected,' he added. On the economic front, Azmi pointed to trade concerns with the US, particularly surrounding tariff tensions, as a dominant theme of ASEAN-level discussions. According to Azmi, Malaysia as chairman wants to broaden up the market not only for Malaysia, but also for ASEAN While member states are expected to maintain individual trade strategies, Malaysia is looking to strengthen partnerships through multilateral platforms. He highlighted the upcoming ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit — which may include China, Japan and South Korea — as a crucial diplomatic and economic opportunity. According to Azmi, this is a win-win situation. For ASEAN and China, it is a gateway to the lucrative GCC market. 'Malaysia as chairman wants to broaden up the market not only for Malaysia, but also for ASEAN,' he said. He said this approach shows ASEAN's adherence to neutrality despite pressures from global superpowers. Azmi also noted Anwar's recent visit to Moscow and engagement with President Vladimir Putin, along with openness toward Chinese President Xi Jinping, as deliberate diplomatic balancing acts. 'Even though there are pressures not to entertain Xi Ji and also not to visit Moscow, Anwar made a decision to move forward to extend Malaysia's and also ASEAN's neutrality,' he said. Equitable Global Economic Landscape Additionally, Azmi opined that Malaysia and other ASEAN nations' potential alignment with BRICS is not an ideological shift, but a platform to advocate for a more equitable global economic landscape and a level playing field for the Global South. Meanwhile, Global Asia Consulting senior consultant Samirul Ariff Othman said Malaysia's unique blend of non-alignment, moderate diplomacy and strategic geography has positioned it as a vital player in shaping the ASEAN Community Vision 2045. With rising geopolitical competition, ASEAN faces mounting pressure to choose sides, particularly amid US-China rivalry and expanding security pacts in the Indo-Pacific, but he argued that Malaysia can guide the region toward a posture of neutrality and resilience through credible, balanced leadership. 'Malaysia is uniquely positioned to shape ASEAN Vision 2045 due to its tradition of non-alignment, multilateral engagement and its central geography in the region. 'It can play a pivotal role in ensuring that regional stability, neutrality and unity remain at the core of the Vision 2045,' he told TMR. This includes promoting ASEAN Neutral Corridors in critical areas like digital infrastructure, cyberspace and maritime routes, which are increasingly caught in a geostrategic tug-of-war. Samirul Ariff suggested that Malaysia's current initiatives in local currency settlements — such as cross-currency trade with China, Indonesia and Thailand — offer a model of economic autonomy that could inspire broader regional adoption. Samirul Ariff says Malaysia's influence on ASEAN Vision 2045 will rely on its ability to balance ambition with credibility Malaysia's credibility on the global stage is not accidental. Its legacy as a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and its history of mediating complex regional conflicts — from the Mindanao peace process to dialogues involving Myanmar and Palestine — has earned it the reputation of a neutral broker in South-East Asia. This perception, according to Samirul Ariff, enhances Malaysia's ability to influence ASEAN policy from within. Malaysia's influence on ASEAN Vision 2045 will rely on its ability to balance ambition with credibility. 'By leveraging its legacy of moderation, institutional presence in ASEAN mechanisms and emerging leadership under Anwar's foreign policy recalibration, Malaysia can help steer the region toward a more autonomous, resilient and unified future.' Samirul Ariff then pointed to Malaysia's recent push for ASEAN-wide reforms in security and diplomacy. Among these are efforts to upgrade the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) to include cyber security and pandemic simulations, revive regional preventive diplomacy tools and proposing a maritime neutrality charter to depoliticise key sea lanes. He believes that Malaysia's strength lies in its midpoint diplomacy — engaging simultaneously with China, the US, India and the European Union (EU) — without being drawn into bloc politics. This strategy should be institutionalised in ASEAN Vision 2045 as a model for navigating an increasingly multipolar world. Samirul Ariff added that Malaysia's refusal to host foreign bases or join exclusive security alliances such as the Australia, the UK and US (AUKUS) security partnership reflects its commitment to ASEAN's neutral posture. 'These are political and diplomatic values that can be translated into regional norms,' he said. Key Ministries Shaping ASEAN 2025 Agenda Malaysia's leadership in hosting the ASEAN Summit 2025 is strongly supported by key ministries and government figures, each playing a strategic role in advancing the summit's diplomatic, economic and security agenda. Supporting PM's diplomatic objectives is Foreign Affairs Ministry (Wisma Putra), which is tasked with coordinating multilateral relations, engaging with ASEAN counterparts and shaping the country's official positions on political and security issues. With geopolitical tensions intensifying in the Indo-Pacific, Samirul Ariff said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan has adopted a firm yet non-confrontational approach at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM), reaffirming Malaysia's commitment to ASEAN centrality and non-alignment. At the heart of his strategy is the vision to transform ASEAN into a convener rather than a proxy battleground, pushing for the revitalisation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) with concrete pipelines in green infrastructure, maritime cooperation and disaster resilience. On the South China Sea, Samirul Ariff noted that Mohamad has proposed timeline-based negotiations for a binding code of conduct and convening ASEANChina maritime workshops involving coast guards and environmental agencies. He has also maintained Malaysia's sovereign claims while keeping diplomatic lines open with China. Mohamad is advancing institutional reforms in line with the Asean Community Vision 2045, including a Digital ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Portal and People-Centred Foreign Policy Dialogue — initiatives meant to modernise diplomacy and amplify grassroots voices. Furthermore, he also supports elevating non-traditional security concerns like cyber threats and AI governance within ASEAN's defence dialogue. 'Mohamad's chairmanship signals a confident pivot in Malaysian diplomacy — one that reinforces ASEAN unity while staying agile amid great power rivalries,' Samirul Ariff said. Meanwhile, the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI), led by Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, is leading deliberations on regional trade policies, industrial cooperation, digital economy frameworks and response to global tariff tensions. MITI's involvement is crucial in reinforcing Malaysia's push for equitable trade growth and deeper economic integration within ASEAN and beyond. Economy Minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli is providing essential policy input on sustainable development, digital connectivity and long-term economic planning to align Malaysia's economic strategies with ASEAN's broader ambitions. Defence Ministry also plays a vital role in the summit's security and defence-related agenda. Through platforms such as the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM), the ministry contributes to shaping confidence-building measures, peacekeeping cooperation and regional stability, particularly in the face of emerging non-traditional threats such as cybersecurity and maritime security. With deliverables such as the ASEAN Cyber Peace Table and a regional risk monitoring framework on the horizon, Malaysia is asserting itself as a principled middle power shaping ASEAN's future. Held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) from May 26-27, the 46th ASEAN Summit also features the inaugural ASEAN-GCC-China Economic Summit, focusing on themes of inclusivity and sustainability. This article first appeared in The Malaysian Reserve weekly print edition
The Sun
25-05-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Malaysia awaits date for ASEAN-US Special Summit
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia, as the 2025 ASEAN Chair, is still awaiting confirmation from the United States (US) on the proposed date for the ASEAN-US Special Summit, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. He said the initiative was formally proposed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who requested that the summit be held sometime this year. 'We are still awaiting a response from the US. Hopefully, we can get the good news and have the ASEAN-US Special Summit,' he told a press conference today ahead of the 46th ASEAN Summit tomorrow. On April 5, Mohamad said he received a phone call from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss, among other things, the Malaysia-US bilateral relations under the Comprehensive Cooperation Framework. He said both sides also discussed and planned a suitable date to hold the ASEAN-US Special Summit in conjunction with Malaysia's ASEAN Chairmanship this year. The 46th ASEAN Summit and its related meetings, held under Malaysia's 2025 Chairmanship themed 'Inclusivity and Sustainability', are expected to address a broad range of pressing regional and international issues, with the ongoing crisis in Myanmar remaining a central concern for ASEAN member states. This year marks Malaysia's fifth time chairing the regional organisation, following previous terms in 1977, 1997, 2005 and 2015. Besides the ASEAN-level meetings, two key inter-regional summits -- the 2nd ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit and the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit -- will also take place on May 26 and 27, signalling the growing engagement between Southeast Asia and its strategic partners in the Gulf and China.
The Sun
25-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
ASEAN economy to expand at 4.7% IN 2025
KUALA LUMPUR: The collective ASEAN gross domestic product (GDP) is projected to grow at 4.7 per cent in 2025 as compared to 4.2 per cent last year, said Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz. He said the 25th ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Council meeting today also forecast the inflation rate for the region at three per cent. 'There was a discussion and a presentation by the ASEAN Secretariat when we talked about the year 2024 and what our forecast is for the year 2025 in terms of GDP growth. There was also a discussion on what we expect the inflation rate to be. 'So today, the expectation is 4.7 per cent for 2025 for the ASEAN GDP growth and inflation around three per cent,' he said in a press conference after the conclusion of the 25th AEC Council meeting on the sidelines of the 46th ASEAN Summit here today. According to Tengku Zafrul, the projection is higher than average compared to the global growth rate and it is really driven by the strong export and public capital spending in larger economies. 'But the 4.7 per cent growth is subject to ... there is a downside risk to that projection because of the external environment and such that we need to look at,' he added. Commenting on negotiations on the tariff issue, Tengku Zafrul noted that ASEAN member states have agreed on ASEAN neutrality and will continue to support the principle of multilateralism and the need for engagement between each country and the United States (US). 'Every country will have its position vis-à-vis the US, and we welcome the engagement that has been done bilaterally by ASEAN member states,' he added. The 46th ASEAN Summit, being held under Malaysia's ASEAN 2025 Chairmanship theme of 'Inclusivity and Sustainability', also marks Malaysia's fifth time chairing the regional bloc since its previous chairmanships in 1977, 1997, 2005 and 2015. The ASEAN Summit and its related meetings are expected to address a wide range of pressing regional and international issues, with the ongoing crisis in Myanmar remaining a key point of concern for ASEAN member states. In addition to the ASEAN-level meetings, the summit will also feature two important inter-regional platforms, the 2nd ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit and the inaugural ASEAN-GCC-China Summit, signalling growing engagement between Southeast Asia and its strategic partners in the Gulf and China.
