ASEAN FOREIGN MINISTERS' MEETING STARTS WITH PLENO SESSION

From Kenny Teng Khoon Hock

VIENTIANE, July 25 (Bernama) -- The 57th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) began in the capital of Laos on Thursday, with the ministers meeting for a plenary and retreat session at the National Convention Centre (NCC).

Themed “ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience”, among the important matters that will be discussed is the progress of the development of the ASEAN Community, as well as the priority areas and achievements of ASEAN 2024.

It is a follow-up to the ASEAN leaders' study and decision on the Implementation of the Five-Point Consensus and the external relations of the group as well as current regional and international issues of mutual interest.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, who is leading the Malaysian delegation to the AMM, said he will attend 19 important meetings related to Southeast Asian leaders and also interested countries.

"We will have various meetings, bilateral meetings, multilateral meetings and with Asean partners, we will be meeting until this Saturday evening.

"In addition to meetings, we will also hold dialogues with interested countries," he told the Malaysian media.

Mohamad's schedule on Thursday is to attend a plenary session and settlement meeting with ASEAN counterparts in conjunction with the AMM, in addition to holding bilateral meetings with representatives from Norway, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Mohamad said meetings with ASEAN counterparts are important in ensuring that the ASEAN agenda can be properly coordinated.

Mohamad and his wife, Datin Seri Raja Salbiah Tengku Nujumudin are also scheduled to attend a dinner hosted by Malaysian Ambassador to Laos, Edi Irwan Mahmud, on Thursday.

-- BERNAMA