ASEAN Foreign Ministers meet in KL for talks on Myanmar, Timor-Leste

7 hours ago

written by

7 hours ago

By AUFA MARDHIAH

AHEAD of the 46th ASEAN Summit, Foreign Ministers from ASEAN member states will convene in Kuala Lumpur today for the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM), expecting to discuss regional unity, Myanmar’s political crisis, and Timor-Leste’s path to full membership.

Under Malaysia’s 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship theme, “ASEAN 2025: Inclusivity and Sustainability”, the meeting is chaired by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

“Among the key agenda items is a follow-up discussion on the Five-Point Consensus regarding Myanmar, with Malaysia continuing to play a leading role in pushing for adherence to the agreement originally endorsed by ASEAN leaders in 2021,” said Wisma Putra in a statement earlier.

The meeting also included a briefing from the ASEAN Secretariat on developments under the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC), as part of the broader effort to deepen ASEAN Community-building initiatives.

During the meeting, ministers further reviewed ASEAN’s engagement with its external partners and held consultations on Timor-Leste’s full membership.

This included deliberations on the adoption of guidelines for the country’s accession to ASEAN’s legal instruments, under the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ framework.

Outcomes from the AMM will shape the direction of the 46th ASEAN Summit as well as the 2nd ASEAN–GCC and ASEAN–GCC–China Summits, scheduled to take place from May 26 to 27 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

Nonetheless, Malaysia reaffirmed its commitment to building a cohesive and future-oriented ASEAN that is responsive to the needs of its people and resilient in the face of global challenges.