Durian. Foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states have been gathering in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for the 58th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) and related meetings, hoping could shape the region future amid global uncertainties.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim who just arrived from overseas visit officially opened the event on Wednesday, 9 July 2025. Malaysia is chairing ASEAN this year by alphabetical order.
“This meeting is crucial in shaping ASEAN’s future amid global uncertainties. Malaysia is committed to leading a united, inclusive, and sustainable ASEAN towards greater stability and prosperity,” PM Anwar Ibrahim stated about the AMM forum.
Prior to the opening ceremony, PM Anwar Ibrahim has met ASEAN Secretary General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn.
Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad in his opening remarks said that ASEAN members should focus on its efforts towards the future when in reality the region face dual threats – climate change and artificial intelligence (AI) technology – as well as the elevation of protectionism behavior due to great power rivalries that caused disturbance of market, supply chain and food security that are impacting the region.
“These issues endanger us all , but especially those of us in the global South, We in ASEAN must focus our efforts toward full future proof of Southeast Asia. We must keep our spirit of strategic autonomy and collective alive,” he said.
ASEAN AMM is held in conjunction with the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), East Asian Summit (EAS) Ministerial meeting, ASEAN+3 Ministerial Meeting and other related meetings.
“We will also confine the ARF with renew reform, reaffirming its rules as the region’s key platform for political security dialog,” FM Mohamad Hasan said. ARF countries are ASEAN member states and its dialog partners, while ASEAN+3 is ASEAN countries plus Japan, South Korea and China.
This time, AMM and its related meeting is special as Algeria and Uruguay join the ASEAN’s Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) that aimed to maintain peace in Southeast Asia region. By adding Algeria and Uruguay, there would be total 57 signatory countries of TAC.
The AMM and related meetings will end on July 10 in which according to Malaysian FM the issue about Palestine to be discussed.(***)
