KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has assured Belgium that maritime access through the South China Sea will remain open, saying Asean remains committed to maintaining peace, neutrality, and open access in the region amid heightened concerns over global shipping disruptions
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the assurance was conveyed during his meeting with Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs, and Development Cooperation, Maxime Prévot.
"So we gave assurance just now that, as far as Asean is concerned, we guarantee the open access,” said Fadillah.
"There will be no blockades whatsoever because we are a country that assures security, neutrality, and peace.
"That is the principle upheld by Asean states,” he told reporters after hosting a luncheon for Prévot and the Belgian delegation here on Thursday (July 2).
He said Prévot sought Malaysia’s assessment of the regional security situation, which includes the South China Sea and the possibility of disruptions similar to those seen in the Strait of Hormuz.
Fadillah, who is also Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, said both sides also discussed strengthening Malaysia-Belgium ties by expanding government-to-government, business-to-business, and people-to-people cooperation.
He said Prévot expressed Belgium’s commitment to enhancing bilateral trade, and would revisit his country’s travel advisory for Sabah with a view to reviewing its current status.
The two leaders also exchanged views on Malaysia’s halal ecosystem, with Belgium proposing that Malaysia’s halal standards be explored as a possible model for wider adoption within the European Union.
Fadillah added that both countries also discussed opportunities to deepen cooperation in energy transition, particularly through Belgian expertise in new technologies and advanced materials, while encouraging greater investment by Belgian companies in Malaysia.
Foreign Ministry Secretary-General Tan Sri Amran Mohamed Zin and Belgium’s Ambassador to Malaysia Peter Van Acker were also present at the luncheon.
Prévot arrived in Malaysia on Thursday for a two-day working visit - his first to this country since assuming office in February 2025. — Bernama
