Introduction
To welcome media representatives
We have just concluded AMM Retreat this morning.
The AMM Retreat marked the first scheduled meeting at the Ministerial level in the annual ASEAN calendar under Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship for 2025.
Issues raised at the Retreat
I highlighted these points:
- The world is facing several disruptions such as conflict mass displacements, natural disasters, technological revolutions and economic shocks.
- These are the new normal that highlights the fragility of the global order. Thus, ASEAN must adopt.
- As we chart the course for the region for the next 20 years through the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and its Strategic Plans, ASEAN must consolidate and reinforce its unity, solidarity and Centrality.
- ASEAN must also build geoeconomic resilience, to prepare at all times for emergencies and be crisis ready.
- That ASEAN must continue to promote, intraregional trade and investment, to shield us from further shocks.
Priorities of Malaysia ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025
● All ASEAN Member states welcomed and expressed support to the Chair and Malaysia’s priorities and deliverables under the Chairmanship theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability”.
● Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship will give priority to the following aspects:
○ Efforts to maintain regional peace, stability and prosperity through dialogue and diplomacy, based on the principles of ASEAN unity and ASEAN centrality.
○ Greater economic integration and efforts to increase intra-ASEAN trade and investment
○ To embrace digitalisation, technology and innovation as well as explore and expand ASEAN economic partnerships
○ Efforts to promote development, growth that brings benefit to all walks of life.
● ASEAN Ministers underscored the importance of strengthening ASEAN unity and Centrality in facing global uncertainty and challenges. ASEAN continued to call for the upholding of international law.
On the Follow up to the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summit,
- ASEAN Ministers welcomed the excellent progress in the development of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and its Strategic Plans.
- ASEAN Ministers also looked forward to the adoption of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and all its Strategic Plans at the 46th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur.
Timor-Leste’s Full Membership in ASEAN.
- ASEAN Ministers welcomed Timor-Leste’s progress in implementing the Roadmap for Timor-Leste’s Full Membership and expressed commitment to facilitate Timor-Leste’s accession to ASEAN.
- Many highlighted the need to support Timor-Leste’s efforts through capacity building and specific technical support programmes.
Implementation of the Five-Point Consensus
- On Myanmar, ASEAN Ministers continued to reaffirm the Five-Point Consensus and ASEAN Leaders decision thereof as the main reference to address the situation in the country, and called on Myanmar to implement it.
- The Ministers expressed the need to continue efforts to achieve an inclusive and durable peaceful resolution in Myanmar that will contribute to peace, security and stability in the region.
- Therefore, we called on all parties to cease hostilities immediately, prioritise humanitarian access, and foster an environment for inclusive dialogue.
- ASEAN Ministers expressed support for Tan Sri Othman Hashim as the Special Envoy of ASEAN Chair on Myanmar in fulfilling his mandate.
External relations
- The Retreat underscored the importance of strengthening ASEAN unity and Centrality in our engagement with external partners, through the various ASEAN-led mechanisms.
- ASEAN also highlighted the need to advance ASEAN’s relations with external partners based on shared interest and mutual benefit.
Regional and International issues
- ASEAN Ministers expressed concern over major power rivalry in the region that may resurge, increase tensions and have spill over effects into our region.
- ASEAN agreed on the importance of safeguarding the region’s interests collectively, and that ASEAN Centrality, unity and solidarity must be reinforced.
- We also underscored that ASEAN must remain in the driver seat of the regional architecture; to continue to determine the direction and future of the region and our community
The situation in South China Sea,
- The Retreat welcomed the progress of the negotiations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC), and highlighted the need to continue the momentum to expedite the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea negotiations, towards an early conclusion of an effective and substantive COC in accordance with UNCLOS 1982.
- We stressed that the South China Sea must remain peaceful and stable.
The Situation in Gaza
- We highlighted that the situation in Gaza remained deeply concerning.
- ASEAN ministers welcomed the recent success of the ceasefire plan and hostage and detainee release agreements that provide an opportunity to deescalate tensions and prioritize the protection of innocent lives.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship
Malaysia has taken over the chairmanship on 1 January 2025. It will run for a year, until 31 December 2025.
Malaysia is chairing ASEAN for the fifth time this year (previously in 1977, 1997, 2005, 2015).
YAB PM has stated that Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship is a national project that requires whole-of-nation approach. Government agencies, private sectors and other segments of societies are expected to contribute to the success of the chairmanship.
This year will be significant as ASEAN celebrates a decade since the realisation of the ASEAN Community in 2015 (which took place during the 27th ASEAN Summit in Malaysia under Malaysia’s chairmanship).
Theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability” – Brainchild of YAB PM.
The chairmanship of ASEAN will enable Malaysia to project its credibility and leadership. It also provides Malaysia with opportunities to bring ASEAN’s voice to global stage via platforms such as WEF and G-20.
Langkawi as the Venue
In total, we are expecting to host at least 362 ASEAN meetings throughout the year – 32 of those will take place in Langkawi.
We are showcasing Langkawi as a world-class tourism and conference venue.
Thank LADA and other agencies in Kedah and Langkawi for the close cooperation and active involvement in supporting KLN’s efforts and ensuring the success of ASEAN meetings – KLN enjoys good cooperation from agencies.
Cabinet has decided that ASEAN meetings under Malaysia’s chairmanship should be held in various states across Malaysia.
This is to showcase Malaysia to ASEAN Member States, as well as bring ASEAN closer to the localities, in line with the inclusivity aspect of
Malaysia’s chairmanship theme.
Whole-of-nation approach – By bringing ASEAN meetings to various localities, we can get local players involved – They can be part of ASEAN events by supplying products / providing services for the meetings.
As part of this agenda, we have engaged locals to get them involved in certain aspects of AMM Retreat such as supplying local ingredients for delegates’ meals, souvenirs and conference equipments.
ASEAN meetings / events will contribute to the socioeconomic growth of the localities, as well as promotes people’s sense of ownership of Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship – This will be a recurring practice throughout Malaysia’s chairmanship.
Programme
The programme spanned two days, from 18 to 19 January 2025.
The AMM Retreat was preceded by activities at the ASEAN Senior Officials’ level on 18 January 2025, including:
- SOM Welcoming Dinner: Held on the evening of 17 January 2025; and
- ASEAN SOM Meeting: Convened on the morning of 18 January 2025.
On 18 January 2025, I hosted a Welcoming Dinner for ASEAN Foreign Ministers and other ASEAN delegates at the PARKROYAL Langkawi Resort.
On the morning of 19 January 2025, I chaired the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat (AMM Retreat).
Several site activities were arranged for ASEAN delegates, showcasing the beauty and attractions of Langkawi to our ASEAN friends.
In line with the inclusivity aspect of the Chairmanship’s theme, local entrepreneurs were invited to exhibit their products to the delegates at The Westin Langkawi Resort.
Key Issues at the Retreat
I also had a number of bilateral meetings with my ASEAN counterparts from Thailand, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Viet Nam and Singapore at the side of the Retreat.
At the conclusion of the Retreat, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers issued a Chair’s Press Statement outlining the key priorities and deliverables of Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship for 2025, aligned with the theme ‘Inclusivity and Sustainability’.
The Press Statement also emphasised Malaysia’s commitments across the three ASEAN Community pillars, political-security, economy and socio-cultural. The Press Statement also addressed significant regional and international issues of importance to Malaysia.
Thank you.
ASEAN Political-Security Community Division (APSCD)
ASEAN-Malaysia National Secretariat
Wisma Putra
19 January 2025
SOURCE: Media Secretariat Team, ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ (AMM) Retreat 2025
--BERNAMA
