KUALA LUMPUR, March 11 (Bernama) – All ASEAN meetings hosted by Malaysia as the ASEAN Chair 2025 have proceeded smoothly, thanks to a Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Nation approach, ensuring seamless coordination among ministries, agencies, local authorities, and government-linked companies (GLCs), the Senate was told today.
Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Mohamad Alamin stated that since January 2024, Malaysia has successfully hosted 46 ASEAN meetings, including four at the ministerial level.
“The ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat, held on January 18-19 in Langkawi, Kedah, marked the official start of this year’s ministerial-level ASEAN agenda,” he said in response to a question from Senator Tan Sri Anitah Aman regarding Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship, upcoming ASEAN events, and their potential impact.
Malaysia’s Priorities as ASEAN Chair
During the retreat, Malaysia outlined its priorities and objectives as ASEAN Chair, which were met with full support from member states to ensure a successful chairmanship in 2025.
Apart from the scheduled ASEAN meetings, Malaysia is set to host 18 major ASEAN-related side events, including the ASEAN AI Summit in June, which aims to strengthen regional cooperation and attract economic and investment opportunities.
“The ASEAN Summit will also provide a platform for Malaysia to engage in strategic bilateral discussions with ASEAN dialogue and external partners on key issues, including trade, investment, education, healthcare, energy transition, and the green economy,” Mohamad added.
South China Sea and ASEAN-China Bilateral Talks
Addressing Malaysia’s stance following the First Bilateral Dialogue between ASEAN and China on Maritime Management Issues in the South China Sea, held in Langkawi, Mohamad reaffirmed that Malaysia’s position remains unchanged and aligns with ongoing negotiations on the territorial dispute.
“The discussion did not touch on territorial claims or the Code of Conduct (COC). Instead, the meeting focused solely on capacity-building and improving communication between Malaysia and China,” he clarified.
Will Trump Attend the ASEAN Summit?
Meanwhile, responding to Senator Datuk Rosni Soharon’s query on whether United States President Donald Trump would attend the upcoming ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Mohamad confirmed that Malaysia is working to ensure participation from world leaders, including Trump.
“ASEAN’s relationship with major global powers is more critical than ever. We must leverage our ASEAN Chairmanship to elevate Malaysia’s leadership profile and demonstrate our capabilities on the global stage,” he said.
— BERNAMA
