This is an opinion piece penned by the Ambassador of Italy to Malaysia, Cristiano Maggipinto, on the significance of Italy being granted the status of development partner of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec. 17 (NNN-Bernama) — Last September, the 53rd ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting officially granted Italy the status of ASEAN development partner.
The friendly relations between Italy and Southeast Asia dates far back in time.
Centuries ago, traders and explorers from the Italian peninsula started sailing through the Straits of Malacca along the routes of spices and silk.
Since then, our ties have grown in many fields. Italian artists, physicians, engineers, and designers visited and worked in Southeast Asia.
Their stories are inspiring us and nurturing an everlasting and mutual sense of friendship and respect.
This is the case, just to make an example, of Odoardo Beccari, an Italian naturalist who spent three years, from 1865 to 1868, undertaking research in Sarawak, Brunei, and Sumatra, and wrote a treaty still considered essential on the flora of Borneo.
When Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio advanced the candidature of Italy as its development partner, he had in mind the ASEAN attitude of fostering cooperation among integrated regional blocs, including the European Union (EU).
This is consistent with the Italian view of an interconnected world, where multilateralism and a cooperative approach should prevail.
This is not just about growth and development. As the EU has done for more than 60 years in Europe, ASEAN contributes to regional and global security by promoting stability and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
Italy is confident that our new partnership will deliver positive and lasting returns, including in the fight against COVID-19.
Since the virus outbreak, Italy has been collaborating with ASEAN. On 17 April, a videoconference was held, organised by the Malaysian Ministry of Health and the Italian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, with the participation of Prof. Ricciardi, scientific advisor for COVID-19 to the Italian Minister of Health, and public health experts from ASEAN Emergency Operation Centre, followed by an exchange of information and best practices.
Through Covax, the international alliance for the COVID-19 vaccine, we are now collaborating to speed up scientific research on safe vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics, ensuring their universal distribution.
Health will remain a major priority also in the agenda of the Italian G20 Presidency, which started on 1 December.
We count on ASEAN support in order to achieve successful outcomes and get the global economy back on track soon.
I have no doubt indeed that our partnership will help us overcome the economic and social impact of the pandemic.
It will benefit our companies, fostering international trade and investments. It will contribute to reshape global supply chains and create also more opportunities for SMEs, which constitute the core of the Italian economic system, as well as the Malaysian one.
Italy is the second-largest manufacturing country in Europe, and our companies are known for their cutting-edge technologies and expertise in many sectors, such as green-tech, energy efficiency and aerospace.
Mastering these technologies will be key in the 21st century and essential to fulfilling the ambitious targets set by the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement.
Italy-ASEAN partnership will increase the opportunities to work together on climate change, including on topics such as reforestation, new urban mobility, and smart cities, in view of the energy transition towards renewable sources and the creation of a circular economy.
Italy is also willing to cooperate in initiatives for sustainable palm oil production.
A further occasion for collaboration on climate change will be the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties, the so-called COP26, which Italy is co-organising with the United Kingdom.
Italy will host in Milan from 28 to 30 September 2021 the “Youth4Climate” initiative. This event will be attended by 400 young people, with at least two representatives from Malaysia, and will present the youth with the opportunity to draw up concrete proposals in fighting climate change and present them to the COP26.
In conclusion, as Minister Di Maio has affirmed, “only by sticking together we can overcome global challenges. I believe this is the most important lesson we have learned from the pandemic. The new development partnership between Italy and ASEAN is definitely a major step ahead in this direction”.
— NNN-BERNAMA
