ASEAN A VITAL PLATFORM FOR US DIPLOMACY, TRADE - EMBASSY SPOKESPERSON
KUALA LUMPUR, July 5 (Bernama) -- The 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) and related meetings, set to begin on Tuesday (July 8) here, will provide a crucial opportunity for the United States (US) to deepen engagement with regional partners on diplomacy and trade.
US Embassy spokesperson James Butler Dewey expressed strong confidence in Malaysia’s preparations and leadership as ASEAN Chair this year, noting the high level of coordination and professionalism shown in hosting the multilateral meeting.
“All of us at the US Embassy are very excited about Malaysia’s chair year - leading this multilateral effort.
“We see the ASEAN forum as a very valuable place to meet with friends and allies, to meet with other nations that are so important to the US as trading partners,” he told Bernama after a walkabout session at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) today.
The session brought together embassy officials ahead of the AMM and related meetings, to be held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) from July 8 to 11.
Dewey, who recently began his diplomatic posting in Malaysia, said his arrival happened to coincide with the ASEAN Chairmanship activities, offering him a timely opportunity to observe Malaysia’s pivotal role in steering regional discussions.
He said Malaysian agencies, including the Foreign Ministry (Wisma Putra), Ministry of Communications and the Department of Information, had provided exceptional support and hospitality throughout the preparations.
“Everyone has been so kind, so helpful, and so careful to make sure we have what we need, which we so appreciate and, on top of everything, great food! … which might sound minor, but in international multilateral conferences, it’s rare to find such wonderful hospitality,” he added.
Dewey also praised the KLCC setting and its surroundings as a fitting location for the regional gathering.
“I was walking through the gardens near the centre and the views of the Petronas Towers - it’s really exciting to have this type of multilateral forum in such a special place,” he said.
The walkabout covered various key areas, including the International Media Centre, plenary halls and hospitality spaces, while also serving as a casual networking opportunity for participating missions.
Malaysia is hosting the AMM as part of its fifth ASEAN Chairmanship, having previously held the role in 1977, 1997, 2005 and 2015.
The high-level meetings will gather about 1,500 delegates, including foreign ministers from ASEAN member states, Timor-Leste, ASEAN Dialogue Partners, ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) participating countries, Sectoral Dialogue Partners and senior officials from the ASEAN Secretariat.
-- BERNAMA
