KUALA LUMPUR: Continuous, constructive and sustained engagement is important among major global powers despite the absence of a joint statement at the recently-concluded East Asia Summit (EAS), says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said the EAS continues to serve as a rare and strategically significant platform where all key players, including Russia, China, and the United States, are present and willing to engage directly on shared regional and global concerns.
"You don't (usually) have regional meetings with their presence. Some meetings, if Myanmar comes in, the Europeans get out. In some meetings, if Russia is coming in, the others will not participate.
But in the Asean-sponsored East Asia Summit, at least there was preparedness to engage and listen.
"They may agree (or) they may disagree, but that is the position, and the consensus within Asean is to ensure that there is engagement," he told a press conference after the closing ceremony of the 47th Asean Summit and Related Summits and handing over of the Asean chairmanship to the Philippines here today (Oct 28).
Anwar said Asean's priority was to keep channels of communication open despite differing positions among member states and dialogue partners.
He said this after being asked about the reason for the absence of the joint statement at the just-concluded EAS.
