MALAYSIA REAFFIRMS ROLE AS ASEAN BRIDGE-BUILDER IN FOSTERING DIALOGUE, MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING

PUTRAJAYA, April 13 (Bernama) -- Malaysia as chair of ASEAN will continue to serve as bridge-builder within the region, fostering dialogue, collaboration and mutual understanding among member states, reflecting the country’s long standing commitment as a facilitator of dialogue and cooperation in the region.

According to the Foreign Ministry, Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Mohamad Alamin has stated this when speaking at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum 2025 (ADF 2025) held in Antalya, Türkiye, recently. 

In his remarks, Mohamad said Malaysia is firmly dedicated to reinforcing ASEAN’s centrality, ensuring that the bloc remains the primary driving force in regional affairs while upholding the principles of neutrality and non-alignment.

“He also highlighted Malaysia’s commitment to engaging constructively with major global powers, advocating for a balanced and principled foreign policy approach amid increasing geopolitical tensions.

“In navigating an evolving and unpredictable global landscape, Malaysia aims to promote unity within ASEAN and enhance the bloc’s resilience, relevance and responsiveness to regional and global challenges,” the statement read.

The deputy minister also highlighted Malaysia’s balanced and principled foreign policy approach in engaging major global powers, especially amid rising geopolitical tensions.

Also featured in the session were Turkiye’s Deputy Foreign Minister A. Berris Ekinci.

On the sidelines of the ADF 2025, Mohamad held bilateral meetings with several of his counterparts, including Cambodia’s Secretary of State of the Foreign Ministry, Min Khuon Phon Rattanak; Somalia’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ali Mohamed Omar, and South Africa’s Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Thandi Moraka.

He also paid a courtesy call on Yemen’s Foreign Minister Dr Shaya Mohsin Mohamed Zindani.

The meetings focused on strengthening bilateral relations, Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship in 2025, and key regional and international issues, including the situation in the Middle East, the statement added.

-- BERNAMA