KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is set to lead Southeast Asia as it assumes the Asean chairmanship next year, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
He said inclusive and people-driven policies will be prioritised to uphold the principles of Asean's centrality.
"Fostering dialogues between different countries and regions will be the core of Malaysia's leadership. We want to prevent the Southeast Asian region from being pulled into the rivalries and tensions between global superpowers," he said.
"We believe that diversity is our strength. Hence, inclusivity and sustainability will be upheld to fulfil the region's spirit defined by peace and shared prosperity," added Mohamad.
He said this in his keynote address titled "Asean as the Cornerstone in an Era of Geopolitical Shifts" during the 15th Asian Conference of Valdai Discussion Club at Royale Chulan Hotel on Monday (Dec 9).
He also called for a change in the "us-versus-them" element found in most global discourse, which he claimed has undermined Asean's true powers.
"Asean's powers are defined by a different engagement system from other blocs. Its shared decision-making model has been widely demonstrated in the global political realm," he said.
He added that Asean does not only focus on striking a balance between different powers but also on building a development framework that is both inclusive and sustainable.
Mohamad then outlined steps to build geo-economic resilience in the region, which include diversifying the supply chain, having strategic reserves of food, energy, and medical supplies, and developing digital infrastructure such as blockchain and artificial intelligence.
"The spirit of not taking sides has granted us access to all markets and partnerships around the world. This is geoeconomic resilience at its finest," he said.
He added that Asean's unity has placed the region in a unique position to advocate for solutions to climate change.
"We acknowledge the urgency of the climate crisis and have taken steps to mitigate the challenge in our economic plans," he said.
Also present was Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko, who called for stronger ties between Russia, Malaysia, and Asean.
"Russia's trade turnover with Asean reached a record high of US$22bil last year and this is just the beginning of stronger Russia-Asean relationships," he said.
"This relationship also provides many significant opportunities for us to diversify our trade. Both Asean and Russia have committed to this and a strong foundation has already been built," he said in his introductory address titled "Russia's Vision on the Asia-Pacific: Strategic Partnerships and Future Prospects".
Themed "Malaysia, Russia and ASEAN: Navigating Emerging Multipolarity", the 15th Asian Conference 2024 of the Valdai Discussion Club will address themes reflecting the evolving dynamics of regional and global cooperation.
It is jointly organised by the Valdai Discussion Club, Bait Al-Amanah, Institute of Strategic Analysis and Policy Research (Insap), and Sasakawa Peace Foundation.
After the keynote and introductory addresses, Insap, Bait Al-Amanah, and Valdai Discussion Club signed an agreement to mark their cooperation.
