KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has extended his heartfelt appreciation to United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for his steadfast peacekeeping efforts and moral leadership over the years.
Delivering his opening remarks at the 15th Asean-UN Summit here Monday (Oct 27), Anwar commended Guterres as a persistent and courageous voice in upholding multilateralism, freedom and the rights of nations and minorities.
"Your presence and more importantly your persistent voice of concerns and courage have been vital in defending this whole entire spades of multilateral arrangements, freedom and respect for the rights of nations and minorities," he said.
Anwar, who chaired the session, also expressed admiration for Guterres' consistent tenacity and moral conviction in confronting some of the world's most pressing crises, including the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
Meanwhile, Guterres, in his remarks, identified four main areas of cooperation between Asean and UN, namely peace and prevention, sustainable development and financial justice, climate action and digital transformation with cybersecurity.
He said the Asean-UN partnership is built on shared principles and strengthened through practical cooperation under the Asean-UN Comprehensive Partnership and the Asean-UN Plan of Action 2026-2030.
Guterres also lauded Asean's contribution to UN peacekeeping missions worldwide, reflecting the region's courage and commitment to global peace and stability.
"I applaud Malaysia's role in facilitating a ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand, pointing the way towards a peaceful settlement of the dispute," he added.
On the situation in the South China Sea, Guterres underscored the importance of preventing incidents and urged all parties to advance the implementation Code of Conduct (COC).
Commenting on the Myanmar conflict, the UN chief described peace in the country as elusive, noting that thousands have been killed and millions displaced.
"I strongly condemn the bloodshed and urge all parties to halt the fighting, protect civilians, allow unimpeded humanitarian access, and engage in an inclusive political process," he said.
Guterres also commended Asean's commitment to providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Myanmar (earthquake), stressing that the path forward must lead to a restoration of democracy, institutions anchored in the rule of law and human rights.
"Any elections held under current conditions risk further exclusion and instability," he cautioned. – Bernama
