Malaysia Emphasizes Building Strategic Trust and Inclusivity during ASEAN Chairmanship 2025
Introduction
PUTRAJAYA, Oct 22 (Bernama) — Malaysia is committed to building strategic trust among nations through ongoing dialogues, diplomacy, and goodwill during its ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025. Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan announced this at the unveiling of the Hibiscus (Bunga Raya) inspired logo and theme "Inclusivity and Sustainability" for the ASEAN-Malaysia Chairmanship 2025 at Wisma Putra on Tuesday.
Key Priorities
Malaysia will continue to push for greater commitment to enhance ASEAN intra-trade and investment, while ensuring that ASEAN is able to leverage on advances in sciences, technology, and innovation, and harness the benefits of digital transformation and new technologies. The key priorities during the chairmanship include narrowing the development gap, improving living standards, and mitigating the impacts of climate change.
Inclusivity and Sustainability
Mohamad highlighted that Malaysia will ensure that the elements of inclusivity and sustainability, which is the theme for 2025, take centre stage in our regional community building efforts. "This will entail greater efforts at narrowing the development gap, improving living standards while mitigating the impacts of climate change," he said.
ASEAN Chairmanship
Laos officially handed the ASEAN Chairmanship to Malaysia during the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits in Vientiane on October 11. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim accepted the ASEAN Chair gavel from his Lao counterpart, Sonexay Siphandone. Anwar noted that Malaysia’s chairmanship will begin a new chapter under the "ASEAN Community Vision 2045".
MADANI Framework
In alignment with the MADANI framework, Mohamad said Malaysia has underscored the interdependent values of ‘Inclusivity’ and ‘Sustainability’ as central to its agenda during its ASEAN Chairmanship. These principles will be embedded across all spectrums of ASEAN cooperation.
ASEAN Community Vision 2045
In 2025, ASEAN will commemorate the 10th anniversary of the ASEAN Community’s establishment and Malaysia intends to adopt the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, which will set strategic priorities for the next 20 years. "I have always believed that, as a community, we have not only withstood, but prevailed, over many of our shared obstacles together through the decades. We have achieved this the ASEAN way," he said.
Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship History
Malaysia previously held the ASEAN Chair in 1977, 1997, 2005, and 2015. ASEAN was founded on August 8, 1967, and currently consists of 10 Southeast Asian member states: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Timor-Leste’s full membership is still pending.
Conclusion
Malaysia’s commitment to building strategic trust among nations through ongoing dialogues, diplomacy, and goodwill is a promising step forward for the region. By prioritizing inclusivity and sustainability, Malaysia aims to reduce the development gap, improve living standards, and mitigate the impacts of climate change. As ASEAN enters a new chapter under the "ASEAN Community Vision 2045", it is crucial for member states to work together to achieve a more inclusive and sustainable community.
FAQs
- What are the key priorities of Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship 2025?
- Narrowing the development gap, improving living standards, and mitigating the impacts of climate change.
- What is the theme for Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship 2025?
- Inclusivity and Sustainability
- When did Laos officially hand over the ASEAN Chairmanship to Malaysia?
- October 11, 2025
- What is the ASEAN Community Vision 2045?
- A 20-year vision that sets strategic priorities for ASEAN cooperation.