Latest news with #regionalcooperation
Malay Mail
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Anwar thanks Prabowo for Indonesia's support in Asean, calls for unity amid rising regional tensions
JAKARTA, July 31 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has expressed appreciation to President Prabowo Subianto for Indonesia's strong support for Malaysia's Asean Chairmanship, as both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to Asean unity and relevance amid rising geopolitical tensions. The message was conveyed during the 13th Annual Consultation between the two leaders held in Jakarta on Tuesday, where both reaffirmed Asean's role as a key platform for regional cooperation and stressing the importance of Asean Centrality and resilience amid rising geopolitical uncertainty. Anwar said he looks forward to welcoming Prabowo at the 47th Asean Summit and Related Summits in October. 'They underscored the need for Asean to stay relevant, united, and proactive in addressing regional and global challenges, while advancing integration to secure peace, stability, and prosperity in the region,' stated the joint statement which issued by Malaysia's Foreign Ministry on Wednesday. On the situation in Myanmar, the leaders expressed deep concern over the continued violence and humanitarian crisis and reaffirmed their commitment to the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) as Asean's main framework in resolving the political impasse and called for an immediate, nationwide, and permanent ceasefire to facilitate humanitarian aid and inclusive dialogue. Prabowo and Anwar also reiterated their readiness to work closely with Asean and external partners in supporting the full implementation of the 5PC toward a peaceful and lasting solution for the people of Myanmar. Meanwhile, Anwar also briefed Prabowo on the outcome of a Special Meeting convened by Malaysia on July 28 to address tensions between Cambodia and Thailand, where both parties agreed to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. Prabowo commended Malaysia's efforts and expressed full support for its role in promoting regional stability, the statement stated. On Palestine, both leaders stressed the urgency of global collective action to reach a just and lasting solution, calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza. Prabowo and Anwar also condemned the use of starvation as a weapon and urged the international community to ensure the unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid. 'They strongly rejected attempts to impose Israeli sovereignty on the Occupied Palestinian Territory or forcibly displace Palestinians, while welcoming the growing recognition of the State of Palestine and urging all countries yet to do so to recognise it,' the statement read. Both sides agreed to convene the 17th Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) as a follow-up to this year's consultation and confirmed that the 14th Annual Consultation will be held in Malaysia in 2026. — Bernama
Arab News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan welcomes Thailand-Cambodia ceasefire, hopes for peaceful resolution via diplomacy
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's foreign office on Tuesday welcomed the Thailand-Cambodia ceasefire after days of fighting, hoping the two sides would resolve their outstanding issues through diplomacy and regional cooperation. The foreign office's statement followed Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's announcement of an 'unconditional ceasefire' between Thailand and Cambodia on Monday. Talks between the two neighboring countries were held at Ibrahim's official residence in Malaysia's administrative capital, Putrajaya. Acting Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet both attended the meeting, along with the ambassadors of China and the United States. Fighting over a border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia broke out last week, killing at least 35 people and displacing more than 270,000 from both sides of the border. Ibrahim said Cambodia and Thailand agreed to a ceasefire effective at midnight on Monday (17:00 GMT) while a meeting between the military commanders of both nations will follow on Tuesday. 'Pakistan welcomes the successful conclusion of the special meeting hosted by Malaysia on the Cambodia-Thailand situation,' the foreign office said in a statement. 'We appreciate the spirit of dialogue and express hope for a peaceful resolution through diplomacy and regional cooperation.' Thailand and Cambodia have wrangled for decades over border territory and been on a conflict footing since the killing of a Cambodian soldier in a skirmish late in May. The development led to a troop buildup on both sides and a full-blown diplomatic crisis that brought Thailand's fragile coalition government to the brink of collapse. Both countries accused each other of starting the fighting last week, that within hours increased from small arms fire to heavy artillery and rockets, and Thailand's unexpected scrambling of an F-16 fighter jet to carry out airstrikes. Pakistan had also engaged in a military conflict with its nuclear-armed neighbor India in May. Both countries pounded each other with fighter jets, artillery fire, drones and missiles before that killed over 70 on both sides of the border before agreeing to a ceasefire brokered by Washington on May 10.
South China Morning Post
18-07-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Are China, Pakistan, Bangladesh quietly planting region's new framework?
In a quiet but potentially defining moment for South Asia, the foreign ministers of Pakistan, China and Bangladesh convened in the Chinese city of Kunming last month. It may have looked like just another diplomatic gathering, but it signalled a strategic shift – one that could recalibrate the balance of regional cooperation and breathe life into the idea of a regional framework post-SAARC, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation For decades, SAARC was envisioned as the collective voice of South Asia, a platform where neighbours – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka – could come together despite their political differences. Yet, SAARC today feels like a relic of a bygone era. India's repeated refusal to participate in SAARC summits, citing tensions with Pakistan, has stalled the organisation. Even Bangladesh's recent call to revive SAARC in the post-Hasina political climate seemed more nostalgic than practical. Truth is, SAARC has always been hostage to bilateral disputes, particularly between India and Pakistan, and that structural weakness may now prove fatal. India, unwilling to engage with Pakistan in a multilateral setting, has shifted its attention to the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), a seven-nation initiative – including Myanmar, Thailand, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka – that notably excludes Pakistan. Meanwhile, India's growing partnership with the United States under its Indo-Pacific strategy has cast it as Washington's preferred regional partner in its bid to counter China's influence. This has not gone unnoticed in China, which finds itself recalibrating its South Asia engagement strategy. For China, Pakistan is a partner in the important China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and a strategic gateway to South Asia. The relationship, based on trust and deepened over the test of time, is not just convenient – it is essential. For Pakistan, which faces a gradual isolation from regional forums and remains at odds with India, an alternative multilateral framework that includes China and like-minded South Asian states could offer both strategic relevance and economic opportunity.
Zawya
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
African Union Chairperson appoints H.E. Évariste Ndayishimiye, President of the Republic of Burundi, as his Special Envoy for the Sahel region
The Chairperson of the African Union, H.E. João Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola, is pleased to announce the appointment of H.E. Évariste Ndayishimiye, President of the Republic of Burundi and African Union Champion for Youth, Peace and Security, as his Special Envoy for the Sahel region. The Chairperson of the African Union is most grateful to H.E President Évariste Ndayishimiye for accepting this strategic political assignment in the collective interest of the Union. President Ndayishimiye will spearhead the renewed African Union's high level diplomatic support and collaborative efforts aimed at addressing the prevailing security and humanitarian challenges in the Sahel. The Special Envoy's mandate covers intensifying engagements with the governmental authorities, opinion leaders, regional actors and organizations, civil society and all relevant stakeholders to foster dialogue, build consensus, and promote comprehensive strategies towards durable peace and stability within the Sahel region. President Ndayishimiye brings with him very rich political experience, and impeccable credentials of resolute commitment to Pan-Africanism, regional integration and cooperation. The appointment reflects the African Union's steadfast commitment to supporting peacebuilding and regional cooperation in one of Africa's most critical regions. The Chairperson of the African Union has expressed full confidence in President Ndayishimiye's ability to advance the Union's vision through his distinguished leadership and deep understanding of the continent's complex dynamics. In effect, this appointment is to foster the African Union's drive to permanently silence the guns and promote peace, security, stability, and political dialogue in the Sahel region. The Chairperson of the African Union therefore calls on the AU Commission, the AU Mission in the Sahel (MISAHEL); all stakeholders and the international community to extend support to the Special Envoy, who is expected to immediately commence his engagements in the region. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union (AU).
CNA
15-07-2025
- Business
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - Is it too easy to be a home-based F&B business?
CNA938 Rewind - It's in Southeast Asia's best interest for Timor-Leste to be part of ASEAN: Analyst Singapore has launched an enhanced technical assistance programme to support Timor-Leste's integration into ASEAN, reinforcing its commitment to regional cooperation. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced this during an official four-day visit of Timor-Leste's Prime Minister, Xanana Gusmão, to Singapore – it's been over a decade since his first in the role. Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin find out more from Dr Mustafa Izzuddin, Senior International Affairs Analyst, Solaris.
