AKARTA, July 14 (NNN-Bernama) — The meetings between ASEAN and several dialogue partner countries on Thursday aim to enhance cooperation in establishing a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Southeast Asian region, said Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir.
He participated in the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference with India, New Zealand, Australia, Russia, China, Japan, the European Union, South Korea, Canada, and the United Kingdom, here.
“All the discussions’ agendas are directed towards the same goal as we strive to strengthen our relationships with these countries in order to make a positive impact in safeguarding Southeast Asia,” he said when approached by the media.
During the meeting with India, Malaysia expressed that the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between both parties provides vast opportunities to strengthen economic cooperation.
Key areas of focus include that of digitalisation, food security, pharmaceuticals, and micro, small and medium enterprises, and connectivity to ensure resilience in global trading.
As ASEAN and India’s shared aspiration for a future of continued peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, he said: “Malaysia is confident both sides would continue to prioritise dialogue and cooperation, including with other partners, against the volatile global geopolitical climate and weakening of the multilateral rules-based order.”
Meanwhile, Zambry called for enhanced cooperation towards food security and better economic integration through the anticipated upgraded ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement and the implementation of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) to advance the ASEAN-New Zealand strategic partnership.
At the meeting with New Zealand, he said the country should join ASEAN in calling for developed countries to strengthen their commitments under the Paris Agreement to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
The meeting also adopted the ASEAN-New Zealand Joint Statement on Cooperation on the ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific as the testament of both side’s commitment to peace, stability and prosperity in the region.
— NNN-BERNAMA
