ASEAN Foreign Ministers Retreat Begins in Langkawi
Langkawi, January 17 (Bernama)
Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan has safely arrived in Langkawi for the ASEAN Foreign Ministers (AMM) Retreat, set to take place on Saturday.
Arrival of Foreign Ministers
Arriving at Langkawi International Airport at approximately 5:45 pm, he travelled on the same aircraft as his Laotian counterpart, Thongsavanh Phomvihane, and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar, Aung Kyaw Moe.
Photos:
LANGKAWI, Jan 17 — Foreign Minister, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan (second, left) with Laos Foreign Minister, Thongsavanh Phomvihane (second, right) after arrive at Lang Merah Complex of the Langkawi International Airport today.
The AMM Retreat, to be held at the Langkawi International Convention Centre, will mark the first major meeting under Malaysia’s chairmanship of ASEAN in 2025, heralding an important and action-packed year to come.
Over 300 key meetings and programmes are scheduled to take place across the country throughout the year.
**Other Foreign Ministers’ Arrivals**
His Bruneian counterpart, Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof, arrived much earlier in the day, while Thailand’s Maris Sangiampongsa is expected to arrive in the evening. The Philippines’ Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Enrique A. Manalo, arrived on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministers of Cambodia, Indonesia, Singapore, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam are expected to arrive on Saturday.
**Timor-Leste to Attend as Observer**
Timor-Leste’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, will attend the retreat as an observer.
**AMM Retreat to Mark New Era**
The AMM Retreat, to be held at the Langkawi International Convention Centre, will mark the first major meeting under Malaysia’s chairmanship of ASEAN in 2025, heralding an important and action-packed year to come. Over 200 delegates from the 10 ASEAN member states, along with observer state Timor-Leste, are expected to attend the retreat.
**Malaysia’s Chairmanship of ASEAN**
Malaysia officially assumed the chairmanship of the ASEAN 2025 on January 1, the fifth time it has led the regional grouping since its establishment in 1967. Over 300 key meetings and programmes are scheduled to take place across the country throughout the year. Malaysia has previously chaired ASEAN in 1977, 1997, 2005, and 2015.
**Conclusion**
The ASEAN Foreign Ministers Retreat is a significant event that marks the beginning of a new era in Malaysia’s chairmanship of ASEAN. The retreat is expected to be a productive and action-packed event, with many important discussions and agreements taking place among the ASEAN member states.
**FAQs**
Q: When did Malaysia assume the chairmanship of ASEAN?
A: Malaysia assumed the chairmanship of ASEAN on January 1, 2025.
Q: How many key meetings and programmes are scheduled to take place across the country throughout the year?
A: Over 300 key meetings and programmes are scheduled to take place.
Q: Who will attend the AMM Retreat as an observer?
A: Timor-Leste’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, will attend the retreat as an observer.
Q: How many delegates are expected to attend the retreat?
A: Over 200 delegates from the 10 ASEAN member states, along with observer state Timor-Leste, are expected to attend the retreat.