MALAYSIA PLAYS VITAL ROLE IN ADVANCING ASEAN PRIORITIES – ASEAN SEC-GEN

By Linda Khoo

LANGKAWI, Jan 19 (Bernama) --  As ASEAN chair, Malaysia is expected to play a vital role in advancing key regional priorities, including strengthening economic cooperation, fostering regional stability, and promoting unity among member states.

ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn said under Malaysia’s chairmanship, the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 will be launched in May and is expected to accelerate sustainable development in the region.

He added that the conclusion of the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) this year aims to accelerate ASEAN’s transformation into a leading digital economy.

“We also expect to upgrade our free trade agreements (FTAs) with our partners. There is a number of FTAs that we will continue to work on,” he said at a press conference on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ (AMM) Retreat which conclude on Sunday.

In conjunction with the 20th anniversary of the East Asia Summit (EAS) declaration, Kao is hopeful that it will continue to serve as a premier leaders-led forum for dialogue and cooperation

“We need to strengthen this to ensure it (EAS) is going to be ASEAN-led as in the driver seat,” he said.

On the conclusion of the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea, Kao said the negotiations had shown lots of progress.

“I think we have made a clear agreement. This year, there will be more meetings under the COC,” he said.

He also commended the new initiative of the ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)–China Summit, to be held in May and which can strengthen economic cooperation.

The AMM Retreat marks an important step in setting the tone and agenda for Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship in 2025. It is the first ministerial-level gathering under Malaysia's chairmanship.

--BERNAMA