ASEAN CHIEF HOLDS KEY SIDELINE MEETINGS AHEAD OF HIGH-LEVEL TALKS
By Nazira Hasanah Nasaruddin
KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 (Bernama) -- ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn held several bilateral meetings with ASEAN leaders, starting with Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, on Tuesday.
The meetings with the leaders of Malaysia, the Philippines and Timor-Leste, held on the sidelines of the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) and related meetings here, each lasted about 20 minutes and covered various regional and bilateral issues of mutual interest.
According to a statement from the ASEAN Secretariat, the meeting with Mohamad focused on advancing ASEAN Community-building efforts, in line with the Chair’s key priorities and deliverables.
Kao reaffirmed the ASEAN Secretariat’s commitment to support the Chair and all ASEAN Member States in achieving the shared goals and objectives outlined in the newly adopted ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future, with the signing of the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future.
During his meeting with Philippines Secretary of Foreign Affairs Ma Theresa P. Lazaro, they discussed efforts to advance ASEAN Community-building, including the implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and its strategic plans, as well as preparations for the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairmanship in 2026.
Kao also congratulated Lazaro on her recent appointment as the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of The Philippines.
Kao also met Bendito dos Santos Freitas, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Timor-Leste, to discuss the country’s progress towards full ASEAN membership, following the ASEAN Leaders’ decision at the 46th ASEAN Summit to admit Timor-Leste as the 11th member of ASEAN at the upcoming 47th ASEAN Summit in October.
The 58th AMM and related meetings, from July 8 to 11, bring together about 1,500 delegates, including foreign ministers from ASEAN, Timor-Leste, ASEAN Dialogue Partners, ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) participating countries, Sectoral Dialogue Partners and senior ASEAN Secretariat officials.
This marks the fifth time Malaysia is chairing ASEAN, having previously held the chairmanship in 1977, 1997, 2005, and 2015.
-- BERNAMA
