Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan chaired the Asean Foreign Ministers’ Retreat (AMM Retreat) at the Langkawi International Convention Centre (LICC). -Bernamapic
LANGKAWI: South-East Asia has emerged as a competitive arena for global superpowers and Asean possesses significant potential, says Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
Therefore, the Foreign Minister said he is hoping for incoming leaders to engage with Asean diplomatically.
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“One frequently asked question relates to the incoming US presidency, and how this will shape the dynamics of the region in the years to come.
“Our region has become a site of concentrated superpower competition.
“Embedded in this tension is the unspoken truth - that this only happened because we hold immense potential. Our geo-strategic position, our cultural versatility and our collective economic weight,” said Mohamad during his opening speech at the Asean Foreign Ministers’ Retreat (AMM) on Sunday (Jan 19).
“This is clear to see and we hope that incoming leaders of our dialogue partner nations will take note of the increasingly important role we play and engage with us diplomatically and open-mindedly,” he added.
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Among the dialogue partners of Asean were Australia, Canada, China, Russia, and the United States.
Earlier, Mohamad said South-East Asian nations can mitigate global geopolitical and economic uncertainties by strengthening trade within the 10-nation Asean grouping.
Mohamad said worldwide disruptions are a new normal, as since 2020, the world has endured pandemic, lockdowns, conflicts, mass displacement, natural disasters, technological revolutions and economic shocks.
“We must build our geoeconomics resilience. To prepare ourselves at all times for emergencies. To not only survive, but to thrive together.
“The best way to do this is by strengthening intra-Asean trade and investment. And, we are ideally positioned to make regional economic integration our highest priority,” he said.
Mohamad said Asean’s involvement in free-trade agreements such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) will be beneficial to the grouping.
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“Together, we are the fifth largest economy in the world. We have a combined GDP of US$3.8 trillion and a total population of 677 million people.
“There is immense potential here for continued growth, but we are so much stronger together. We must continue to promote intra-regional trade and investment to shield us from further shocks down the line,” he added.
Meanwhile, Mohamad said Malaysia, as the chair of Asean this year, aspires to set a new standard for global governance which revolves around long-lasting values of inclusivity, diversity and future-oriented planning.
“These are modelled on Malaysia’s Madani principles,” he added.
Mohamad also stressed the importance of demonstrating inclusivity within Asean.
“If we do not demonstrate inclusivity, all of our rhetoric would ring hollow,” added Mohamad.
The AMM is set to conclude on Sunday (Jan 19) and it is the first major Asean meeting with Malaysia as chair this year.
