MANILA - ASEAN member states have agreed for Malaysia to become the country coordinator for ASEAN-Turkiye relations, following the regional bloc’s decision today to accept the country as a new Dialogue Partner, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
He said both decisions were reached during the plenary session held in conjunction with the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) and Post-Ministerial Conference (PMC), as well as related meetings here.
"We welcome Turkiye as ASEAN’s new Dialogue Partner, which was accepted when we (Malaysia) were ASEAN Chair, and ASEAN leaders requested that the matter be examined at the secretariat, foreign ministers and officials’ levels, as we have a moratorium.
"This is because we have set strict conditions for accepting other countries as new members or Dialogue Partners. We have done so, and all countries agreed with the criteria we established,” he told Bernama when met after attending the plenary session held in conjunction with the 59th AMM here today.
Malaysia, as ASEAN Chair in 2025, had proposed that Turkiye be admitted as an ASEAN Dialogue Partner.
Mohamad said ASEAN also agreed during the plenary session to accept the United Kingdom as a new member of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).
At the session chaired by Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, Mohamad said discussions also covered the role of ASEAN member states in strengthening the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.
"ASEAN secretary-general (Dr Kao Kim Hourn) also presented the latest status on developments regarding the ASEAN Vision 2045,” he said.
According to Mohamad, ASEAN’s role in navigating an uncertain geopolitical and geo-economic landscape was also among the matters discussed.
"The ASEAN Community must continue to safeguard our centrality, as this is the core strength of ASEAN. We do not want any efforts to be made to undermine ASEAN centrality. Therefore, we must ensure it is preserved as best as possible,” he said. - BERNAMA