Timely For ASEAN, SCO To Elevate Relations

By Voon Miaw Ping

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 1 (Bernama) -- The time is right for the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to elevate its engagements with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

Senior international and strategic analyst, Dr Lam Choong Wah from Universiti Malaya, expressed this view, highlighting the crucial roles ASEAN and SCO play in maintaining regional peace, security, and economic prosperity.

“Both organisations cover vast Asian territories and can collaborate across various domains due to geographical, political, economic, and security reasons.

“In the contemporary geopolitical landscape, reducing mistrust and fostering cooperation among countries and different groups is essential,” he told Bernama.

Regarding security, Lam noted that the visions and objectives of the ASEAN Political-Security Community align with SCO’s advocacy.

Therefore, he said, strengthening bilateral ties between these organisations would significantly contribute to building trust and peace in Asia.

Given these prospects, Lam suggested that Malaysia, as the ASEAN chair next year, should play a key role in initiating high-level engagement with the SCO, noting that current cooperation between both parties only occurs at the secretariat level.

“I propose that Malaysia, which will assume the ASEAN chairmanship next year, consider establishing high-level dialogue between ASEAN and SCO, ranging from ministerial to leadership summits, following an incremental approach.”

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, established in 2001, is an intergovernmental international organisation aimed at encouraging effective cooperation among member states in various spheres, including politics, economy, regional security and stability, science and technology, energy, and transport.

It now comprises 10 members China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, Pakistan, Iran, and Belarus, representing over three billion people or about 45 per cent of the world's population.

Their combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2023 accounted for approximately 32 per cent of the world's total.

Since its establishment in 1967, ASEAN has become one of the world’s fastest-growing regions.

With a population of almost 700 million and a combined GDP of US$3.8 trillion, ASEAN is projected to be the fourth-largest economy in the world by 2030.

ASEAN also plays a crucial role in shaping security cooperation to maintain peace and stability in the region notwithstanding the evolving challenges of the global geopolitical landscape.

Formal contact between ASEAN and SCO was first initiated in October 2002.

In 2005, the Secretariats of ASEAN and SCO signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to undertake cooperation in several areas, including economic and financial cooperation, tourism, energy cooperation, transnational crime, and counter-terrorism.

While the Secretariats periodically engage in visits to enhance communication and collaboration, the relationship, however, has remained at the Secretariat-to-Secretariat level until now.

“After 22 years of contact and secretariat cooperation, I believe it is timely to elevate bilateral cooperation to a broader and more robust status. This could involve ministerial and leadership dialogues, allowing for deeper engagement,” Lam said.

While China, India, and Russia are ASEAN dialogue partners, Cambodia and Myanmar are currently the only ASEAN member states granted dialogue partner status with the SCO.

-- BERNAMA