Malaysia Poised To Lead ASEAN With Visionary Leadership, Says South Korean Deputy FM

By Nabilah Saleh

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 17 (Bernama) -- As Malaysia assumes the ASEAN chairmanship this year, South Korea has expressed confidence in Malaysia’s leadership to guide the bloc towards achieving long-term strategic goals while fostering regional peace, resilience and inclusivity.

South Korea’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Chung Byung-won, emphasised Malaysia’s historical significance within ASEAN, citing its contributions to pivotal milestones such as the launch of the East Asia Summit in 2005 and the establishment of the ASEAN Community in 2015.

“Malaysia, as a founding member of ASEAN, has played a pivotal role in ASEAN cooperation and has demonstrated significant leadership,” Chung told Bernama.

He made this remark in an exclusive written interview with Bernama in conjunction with the ASEAN Foreign Minister’s Retreat (AMM) from January 18-19 in Langkawi, Kedah.

He further noted that the upcoming adoption of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 presents a critical opportunity for Malaysia to steer the bloc towards a cohesive and forward-looking strategy for the next two decades.

“We hope that Malaysia will demonstrate intellectual and institutional leadership in guiding ASEAN as it charts a strategic direction of the organisation for the next 20 years,” he said.

On a similar note, Chung praised Malaysia’s MADANI vision for its alignment with ASEAN’s 2025 theme of "Inclusivity and Sustainability." 

“It is impressive to see how Malaysia’s MADANI vision closely aligns with this year’s theme of ‘Inclusivity and Sustainability.’ South Korea is committed to strongly supporting Malaysia in achieving the goals outlined under this theme,” he added.

Chung also pointed to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) between South Korea and ASEAN, which was elevated last year, as a foundation for deeper cooperation under Malaysia’s leadership.

“We are very excited to have Malaysia as ASEAN Chair as we begin the first year of our new partnership. Under the Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative (KASI), South Korea’s regional policy specifically tailored to ASEAN, numerous initiatives and projects are underway,” he added.

Chung further explained that these initiatives span all three pillars of the ASEAN Community and align with regional priorities, including peace, resilience, and inclusivity.

“In particular, we have launched several multi-year flagship projects to address key issues such as digital innovation and climate change and to expand scholarship opportunities for ASEAN’s young talents,” he said, underlining South Korea’s commitment to fostering sustainable development and regional stability.

South Korea initiated sectoral dialogue relations with ASEAN in November 1989 and was accorded full Dialogue Partner status at the 24th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in July 1991 in Kuala Lumpur.

-- BERNAMA