ASEAN must face global challenges with unity, says Foreign Minister

By HIDAYATH HISHAM

ASEAN must remain united in the face of rising external pressure, global economic shifts and regional instability.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the region’s strength lies in its cohesion, especially as Southeast Asia contends with trade disruptions, climate change, and technological uncertainty.

“It is therefore with great urgency that I remind you all, of the great need for us to approach the issues on the horizon, as a collective,” he said in his opening remarks at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Kuala Lumpur today.

Mohamad said that ASEAN nations are among the most affected by global superpower rivalries and the fallout from the US–China trade war, including recent tariffs imposed on Southeast Asian economies.

Beyond economic risks, he warned that rising sea levels, extreme weather, and unregulated artificial intelligence are likely to hit the region’s low-lying countries and digitally connected populations hardest.

“With cohesion and solidarity, and strategic autonomy as one ASEAN community, this collective effort will enable ASEAN to weather challenges, minimise impact on our people, and continue to grow sustainably with a future-proof mindset,” he said.

Mohamad added that ASEAN’s centrality must remain the cornerstone of regional diplomacy and internal strength, especially as global polarisation intensifies.

“For ASEAN, unity is now more important than ever,” he said.

He also called on ASEAN to reinforce regional integration and reduce income disparities among member states by enhancing mechanisms for intra-ASEAN trade and tailoring them to each country’s unique strengths.

Additionally, he urged the bloc to speak with one voice on matters of peace, justice, equality, humanity and international law — including the ongoing situation in Gaza and recent hostilities in Myanmar.

“ASEAN cannot remain silent. We have a voice in world affairs, and we must use our voice to speak up for the oppressed,” he said.

Mohaad stressed that inclusivity and sustainability — Malaysia’s theme for its ASEAN chairmanship — must serve as the region’s long-term blueprint.

“The future of ASEAN depends on the choices we make today,” he said.