International Diplomatic Spotlight On Malaysia As KL Hosts 58th AMM

By Muhammad Faiz Baharin and Voon Miaw Ping

KUALA LUMPUR, July 7 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian capital will be in the international diplomatic spotlight as it prepares to host the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) and related meetings beginning Tuesday.

The 58th AMM and related meetings, a key annual event in the ASEAN calendar, will be hosted by Malaysia under its 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship theme, “Inclusivity and Sustainability”.

The highly anticipated gathering will see one of the largest assemblies of foreign ministers and high-ranking diplomats from around the world to discuss pressing global and regional issues, foster cooperation and advance the agenda of security and sustainability in ASEAN.

Over 40 foreign ministers and representatives from international organisations are scheduled to attend a series of ASEAN-led meetings at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) from July 8 to 11. 

All foreign ministers of ASEAN member states will be present, except for Myanmar, which will only be represented by a senior official from the foreign ministry, while the Foreign Minister from Timor-Leste will be participating as an observer.

Foreign Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Amran Mohamed Zin confirmed at a news conference on Sunday that all of ASEAN’s external partners would be attending the meeting. 

He said the strong turnout reflects the growing interest from other countries in the regional grouping’s strategic role on the global geopolitical stage.

“This is no longer just a routine. Even though there are many regional and international meetings on the calendar, the participation (in the 58th AMM and related meetings) so far is very encouraging,” he added.

Reliable sources confirmed that China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and the United States’ Secretary of State Marco Rubio are among those who will be attending the meetings.

The 58th AMM and related meetings will begin with the ASEAN Foreign Ministers attending an interface meeting with the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) Representatives, followed by the meeting on Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (SEANWFZ).

At the meeting on the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), Malaysia is expected to announce accession of two new countries, each from the African continent and South America, to the treaty. 

A total of 24 ASEAN Foreign Ministers-level meetings will be convened throughout the four days.

These include a series of bilateral meetings with ASEAN’s external dialogue partners - Australia, Canada, China, the European Union (EU), India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea, UK and US.

Four trilateral meetings between Malaysia, the ASEAN Secretariat and its sectoral partners, namely Brazil, Norway, Switzerland and Turkiye, will also be held. 

The East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and ASEAN Regional Forum will also be taking place.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, as chair of the AMM, will preside over these meetings.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is scheduled to open the 58th AMM and deliver the keynote address on Wednesday.

Malaysia will also host the Fourth Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development (CEAPAD IV) on the sidelines of the 58th AMM.

CEAPAD IV, which will be co-chaired by Malaysia, Japan and Palestine, will focus on capacity-building programmes, reconstruction of critical infrastructure in Palestine and the provision of comprehensive and effective humanitarian assistance.

This is the fifth time Malaysia has held the ASEAN chairmanship throughout its history as a member of the regional bloc, having previously chaired it in 1977, 1997, 2005 and 2015.

-- BERNAMA