Singapore (VNA) – Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Bin Ibrahim delivered a special address at the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, affirming the central role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the regional security architecture, supporting an open, transparent, inclusive, and rules-based regional architecture.
In his role as ASEAN Chair 2025, Ibrahim mentioned some advantages and disadvantages for ASEAN at present.
Regarding advantages, he emphasised that ASEAN always has connectivity and stability, cooperation and development, especially in terms of economy. Not only within the association, ASEAN also cooperates with external partners in the fields of economy, investment, energy, cyber security, food security, and culture. He also announced that ASEAN has agreed to admit Timor-Leste as ASEAN’s 11th member in October.
Regarding difficulties, according to Ibrahim, although the situation in Myanmar remains grave, ASEAN is not standing still. ASEAN does not seek to engineer outcomes in Myanmar. But they are equally clear that the Five-Point Consensus dictates that a resolution that excludes those most affected by this crisis will not endure. Myanmar’s nationhood must be forged through inclusion, not erasure.
He said the dispute in East Sea is far too complex and the concerned parties' objective is not achieved through escalation nor by provoking others into disproportionate responses. It is best pursued through steady, principled diplomacy: quiet, where necessary, but always firm.
According to the Malaysian PM, in addition to conflicts in many parts of the world, poverty, division, the risk of an arms race, the trade war also causes difficulties for the region, threatening to leading to instability in terms of security. The world needs to act to protect peace and stability, through clear, transparent, cooperative and long-term visionary policies, he noted./.
