ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat Kicks Off in Langkawi
Background
The ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat (AMM) in Langkawi, Malaysia, marks Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Sugiono’s first attendance at an ASEAN meeting since his appointment to the post in October last year.
Foreign Ministers’ Arrival
Sugiono, 46, who serves under President Prabowo Subianto’s "Red and White Cabinet," arrived at the Lang Merah Complex in Langkawi this afternoon, along with Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Bui Thanh Son, and Timor-Leste’s Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Minister Bendito dos Santos Freitas, who will be participating as an ASEAN observer. Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and other counterparts arrived yesterday.
Indonesia’s Priorities
In a statement in Jakarta on Friday, Sugiono said Indonesia will continue to prioritize the unity and centrality of ASEAN. Referring to Prabowo’s statement, he emphasized that Indonesia would like to be a good neighbor, including ASEAN member states. "Since he was elected, even before he was appointed, President Prabowo has visited ASEAN countries. This, once again, shows ASEAN’s importance to Indonesia," Sugiono said as reported by the Indonesian News Agency (Antara).
AMM Retreat Details
Later in the evening, foreign ministers are expected to attend a welcoming dinner hosted by Mohamad before proceeding for the AMM Retreat on Sunday, where a wide range of regional and international issues will be discussed. Also in attendance are ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn and a representative from Myanmar. The retreat will touch on ASEAN’s strategic direction, efforts to strengthen the ASEAN Community, and ASEAN’s external relations.
SOM and AMM
The two-day AMM held at the Langkawi International Convention Centre commenced today, with the ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) taking place as an essential preparatory session for the retreat. The SOM, chaired by the ASEAN SOM Leader for Malaysia and Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Datuk Seri Amran Mohamed Zin, aims to be a platform for leaders to engage in in-depth discussions on key regional issues, formulate recommendations, and align ASEAN member states in preparation for the ministerial-level meeting. Malaysia officially assumed the chairmanship of ASEAN on January 1, with more than 300 key meetings and programs set to take place throughout the year. Malaysia previously chaired ASEAN in 1977, 1997, 2005, and 2015.
Conclusion
The ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat marks an important milestone in the region’s diplomatic calendar, as foreign ministers gather to discuss pressing regional and international issues. With Indonesia’s new foreign minister making his debut, the meeting is expected to be a significant step forward in promoting unity and cooperation among ASEAN member states.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat?
The ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat is a meeting of foreign ministers from ASEAN member states, held to discuss regional and international issues. - Who is attending the meeting?
Foreign ministers from Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, Timor-Leste, and Malaysia, as well as the ASEAN Secretary-General and a representative from Myanmar. - What are the key topics to be discussed?
ASEAN’s strategic direction, efforts to strengthen the ASEAN Community, and ASEAN’s external relations.