KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has called for a more unified and integrated approach across Asean's political-security and economic pillars to ensure the regional bloc remains resilient, relevant and competitive amid growing global uncertainties.
Foreign Ministry secretary-general and Malaysia's Asean Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) Leader Datuk Seri Amran Mohamed Zin said closer coordination between Asean's core sectors is vital to address cross-border challenges and to strengthen policy coherence ahead of the Joint Ministerial Meeting between Foreign and Economic Ministers on Saturday (Oct 25).
"Malaysia remains steadfast in our belief that fostering deeper collaboration between our political security and economic tracks will enhance Asean's ability to navigate complex issues from peace and regional stability to trade and investment facilitation."
He said this in his opening remarks at the Asean Joint SOM and Senior Economic Officials' Meeting (SEOM) held on Thursday (Oct 23) in conjunction with the 47th Asean Summit and Related Summits here.
Co-chairing the meeting with the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry deputy secretary-general (Trade) Mastura Ahmad Mustafa, Amran said the discussion aims at aligning Asean's strategic priorities and ensuring that regional policies remain mutually reinforcing across the economic and political-security pillars.
"Our objective today is to lay the groundwork for our ministers to advance policies that not only safeguard our regional stability, but also drive sustainable growth and prosperity for all Asean member states," he said.
Amran also noted that the global landscape is increasingly defined by unprecedented complexity and transformation, where geopolitical tensions, economic fragmentation and rapid technological advancements are reshaping international cooperation.
"The order that has structured international relations and trade is fracturing and fraying. Geopolitical tensions, economic fragmentation, and rapid technological advancements are reshaping the way nations engage and cooperate," he said.
Amran also commended the Asean Geoeconomic Task Force (AGTF) for its work in formulating strategies to enable Asean to respond more effectively to global economic dynamics.
The 47th Asean Summit and Related Summits will take place at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from Oct 26 to 28, under Malaysia's Asean 2025 Chairmanship, themed "Inclusivity and Sustainability".
This year's summit, dubbed the largest in Asean history, will serve as a key platform to advance regional cooperation, strengthen collective resilience, and address shared challenges in a cohesive and inclusive manner.
Malaysia is chairing Asean for the fifth time since the bloc's establishment in 1967, following previous chairmanships in 2015, 2005, 1997 and 1977. – Bernama
