58th AMM Opens With Push For A Forward-Looking ASEAN

By Ahmad Aidil Syukri Hamzah

KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 (Bernama) -- The 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) and related meetings commenced successfully on Wednesday in Kuala Lumpur, marking the beginning of a series of high-level discussions under Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship for 2025.

The day began with a courtesy call by all ASEAN Foreign Ministers on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, underscoring Malaysia’s leadership in advancing a more cohesive and forward-looking ASEAN.

This was followed by the opening session, officiated by the Prime Minister, who in his remarks called on ASEAN to reinforce internal unity and strategic relevance amid mounting global uncertainties.

In his speech, the Prime Minister also emphasised the need for ASEAN to remain an engine of peace, stability and inclusive development.

The opening session was followed by the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (Plenary Session), chaired by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, and attended by Foreign Ministers of all 10 ASEAN Member States, as well as Timor-Leste, which participated as an observer.

Among the key issues discussed were the implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and initiatives to strengthen regional integration and economic resilience.

The ministers also exchanged views on current regional and international developments, including the situation in Myanmar.

In the evening, ASEAN formally welcomed Algeria and Uruguay as the latest signatories to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), during a signing ceremony held as part of the programme.

The event signified ASEAN’s growing global relevance and the expanding number of partners who subscribe to its principles of peaceful coexistence and mutual respect.

Following the ceremony, Mohamad held a bilateral meeting with Uruguay’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mario Lubetkin.

The 58th AMM and related meetings, held from July 8 to 11 under Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship with the theme ‘Inclusivity and Sustainability’, feature 24 ministerial-level engagements involving ASEAN Dialogue Partners and Sectoral Dialogue Partners.

The four-day high-level events bring together around 1,500 delegates, including foreign ministers from ASEAN member states, Timor-Leste, ASEAN Dialogue Partners, ASEAN Regional Forum participants, Sectoral Dialogue Partners and senior officials from the ASEAN Secretariat.

The 58th AMM continues tomorrow with a series of related meetings involving ASEAN’s Dialogue Partners.

-- BERNAMA