Press Release

Senior Minister of Foreign Affairs, YB Dato‟ Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein led Malaysia‟s delegation to the 54th ASEAN Foreign Ministers‟ Meeting (54th AMM) and Related Meetings, which were held from 2-7 August 2021 via video conference.

Over the course of the six-day event, YB Senior Minister of Foreign Affairs participated in the 54th AMM, ASEAN Foreign Ministers‟ Meeting Interface with ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights Representatives (AICHR), Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) Commission, 23rd ASEAN PoliticalSecurity Community Council Meeting (23rd APSC), 29th ASEAN Coordinating Council (29th ACC), 22nd ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers‟ Meeting (22nd APT FMM), 11th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers‟ Meeting (11th EAS), and 28th ASEAN Regional Forum (28th ARF). He also participated in the Post Ministerial Conferences (PMC) with 10 Dialogue Partners, namely Australia, Canada, China, the European Union, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia and the United States, individually.

54th AMM

During the 54th AMM, ASEAN Foreign Ministers discussed the follow-up to the decisions reached by ASEAN Leaders at the 37th ASEAN Summit in November 2020, including the implementation of the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework to mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the region‟s socio-economy. In his intervention, YB Senior Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed the hope that the adoption of the ASEAN Travel Corridor Arrangement Framework would help facilitate essential business travels in the region with the view to reactivating business activities. YB Senior Minister of Foreign Affairs also highlighted the need for mutual recognition of vaccines to ease travels when borders re-open.

When discussing the follow-up to the ASEAN Leaders‟ Meeting (ALM) which was held in Jakarta in April 2021, YB Senior Minister of Foreign Affairs underlined the importance of the expeditious implementation of the Five-Point Consensus; the appointment of the Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair; and for the Special Envoy to work with the Secretary General of ASEAN on the humanitarian assistance in Myanmar, through the ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance (AHA) Centre. He also urged the State Administration Council, Myanmar to accord full and unimpeded access to the Special Envoy to meet all the relevant stakeholders.

Interface with AICHR

During the AICHR Meeting, the Meeting commended AICHR for its continued efforts to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedom despite the ongoing pandemic, by conducting the AICHR Priority Programmes online. On that note, Malaysia urged AICHR to strengthen its protection mandate and broaden its priorities to include new topics and target groups.

SEANWFZ Commission Meeting

At the SEANWFZ Commission meeting, Malaysia continued to advocate for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons, in line with the 1971 Declaration on the Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality (ZOPFAN). Malaysia expressed concerns about the disastrous humanitarian consequences caused by any use of nuclear weapons, and is steadfast in its efforts to bridge the divergent positions within ASEAN, concerning the reservations of the Nuclear Weapon States (NWS) to the SEANWFZ Protocol, as well as for NWS to sign and ratify the Protocol to the SEANWFZ Treaty at the earliest.

23rd APSC Council Meeting

At the 23rd APSC, Malaysia encouraged greater ASEAN collaborative efforts in mitigating the impacts of COVID-19, expressed the importance for continued effective implementation of APSC Blueprint 2025, and proposed for ASEAN to engage Dialogue Partners to provide capacity-building assistance to Timor-Leste.

29th ASEAN Coordinating Council Meeting

During the 29th ACC Meeting, YB Senior Minister of Foreign Affairs emphasized the importance of harnessing opportunities from the Fourth Industrial Revolution through digital transformation to foster economic growth and connectivity as well as to promote inclusive and equitable economic development. He also expressed Malaysia‟s support for the strengthening of the ASEAN Cross-Pillar and Cross-Sectoral Coordination to Enhance Emergencies and Disasters Preparedness and Response through ASEAN SHIELD and stressed the importance of the ASEAN Travel Corridor Arrangement Framework (ACTAF) which has been adopted to facilitate essential business travels within ASEAN, an initiative under the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework, aimed at facilitating the region‟s socio-economic recovery from the pandemic.

22nd ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers’ Meeting

The 22nd APT held on 3 August 2021 took note of ASEAN‟s collective response to COVID-19 and welcomed the ASEAN Plus Three countries‟ (Republic of Korea, People‟s Republic of China and Japan) commitment to assist ASEAN in the efforts to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic by supporting the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework (ACRF) as well as by contributing to the COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund. YB Senior Minister of Foreign Affairs called on the Meeting to look at the pandemic beyond its health and economic crises, particularly on the well-being of individuals, specifically mental health. On another note, The Meeting stressed the need for sustained cooperation on accessibility to and distribution of vaccines as critical measures to combat COVID-19.

11th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting

During the 11th EAS on 4 August 2021, Malaysia reaffirmed its support for mental health cooperation, underscored ASEAN‟s commitment to strengthen multilateralism among the EAS Participating Countries, and stressed the importance of EAS participating countries to work together on ensuring access to vaccines. The Meeting also discussed the situation in the South China Sea and addressed the developments in Myanmar. Malaysia also advocated the Palestinian cause, reiterating the call to stop all heinous acts against the Palestinians in violation of international law, and stressing the importance of prioritising humanitarian assistance and rebuilding Gaza.

28th ASEAN Regional Forum

At the 28th ARF on 6 August 2021, YB Senior Minister of Foreign Affairs called for greater collaboration among ARF Participants, through sharing of data, best practices, and technological advancement, in the global efforts to achieve herd immunity, as well as ensuring universal and equitable access to safe, effective and affordable vaccines.

Malaysia also encouraged the Meeting to work closely to reduce the exposure of youth to terrorist propaganda, particularly in cyberspace and informed the Meeting on Malaysia‟s plans to hold an online seminar on „The Role of Youth in Building Digital Resilience to Prevent and Counter Terrorism and Violent Extremism Conducive to Terrorism (VECT)‟, together with Australia and New Zealand. This initiative is part of Malaysia‟s support to Brunei Darussalam‟s deliverable in advancing regional cooperation on Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) Agenda.

Malaysia also reiterated that it remains in strong solidarity with the people of Palestine and support concrete, honest efforts to find a just and lasting solution to the IsraeliPalestinian conflict based on international law and relevant United Nations resolutions

Post Ministerial Conferences with ASEAN Dialogue Partners

During the Post Ministerial Conferences (PMC) with ASEAN Dialogue Partners held from 3-6 August 2021, members discussed the progress made under the existing Plans of Actions under the framework of each ASEAN‟s dialogue relations with Dialogue Partners. Overall, the Meetings exchanged views on matters relating to regional and international issues of common concern, such as the region‟s response to the COVID19 pandemic, vaccine cooperation and multilateralism, digital economy, situation in the South China Sea, Korean Peninsula and developments in Myanmar, regional antiterrorism and violent extremism efforts, climate change and environmental protection, disaster management preparedness, maritime security as well as other non-traditional security issues including cyber security.

YB Senior Minister of Foreign Affairs co-chaired the ASEAN-Australia Ministerial Meeting that was held on 4 August 2021 with his Australian counterpart, Senator Marise Payne, in Malaysia‟s capacity as the Country Coordinator for the dialogue relations. YB Senior Minister presented the ASEAN Common Statement which touched on a wide range of cooperation between ASEAN and Australia and the way forward, including the convening of the inaugural ASEAN-Australia Leaders‟ Summit in October 2021. At the end of the Meeting, Malaysia handed over the coordinatorship to Lao PDR after holding the role for three years since August 2018.

Malaysia will be the country coordinator for ASEAN-Canada Dialogue Relations for the next three years (2021-2024), after taking over the role from Myanmar.

Following the decision of the 54th AMM, the UK was accorded the status of Dialogue Partner of ASEAN, in a ceremony held on 5 August 2021 via video conference.

The Joint Communique

At the conclusion of the 54th AMM and Related Meetings, the Foreign Ministers adopted the 54th AMM Joint Communiqué (JC), which highlighted the outcomes of the discussions as well as strategic and important decisions made during the meetings, including the appointment of Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof, Minister of Foreign Affairs II of Brunei Darussalam as the Special Envoy of the Chair of ASEAN on Myanmar. The roles of the Special Envoy include, among others, building trust and confidence among all parties concerned, as well as facilitating swift humanitarian assistance to those in need in Myanmar, through the AHA Centre.

Overall, the convening of the 54th AMM and Related Meetings showcased ASEAN‟s priorities in focusing on people-centric collaborative efforts during this unprecedented and challenging time, in line with Brunei‟s 2021 Chairmanship theme “We Care, We Prepare, We Prosper'”.

PUTRAJAYA

9 AUGUST 2021