WORKING VISIT OF MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS DATO’ SERI UTAMA HAJI MOHAMAD BIN HAJI HASAN TO BRUSSELS, BELGIUM 1 – 3 FEBRUARY 2024
WORKING VISIT OF MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
DATO’ SERI UTAMA HAJI MOHAMAD BIN HAJI HASAN
TO BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
1 – 3 FEBRUARY 2024
Minister of Foreign Affairs Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Mohamad bin Haji Hasan undertook a working visit to Brussels, Belgium, from 1 to 3 February 2024 to attend the 24th ASEAN-European Union Ministerial Meeting (24th AEMM), as well as the 3rd European Union Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum (3rd EU IPMF).
At the 24th AEMM, the Foreign Minister highlighted three key points, namely (i) energy transition, (ii) palm oil and (iii) Palestine. The Foreign Minister underscored the need for ASEAN and the EU to further collaborate on energy transition in accelerating ASEAN’s energy transition journey. On palm oil, the Foreign Minister encouraged ASEAN and the EU to deepen collaboration through equitable frameworks that consider environmental concerns, without disregarding the developmental needs of countries.
The Foreign Minister also reiterated Malaysia’s strong condemnation of the atrocities and violence being perpetrated by the occupying power, Israel, on citizens of the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and reiterated Malaysia’s continued call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
The Foreign Minister also welcomed the decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the case initiated by South Africa against Israel concerning the application of the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, and called on the international community to support the ICJ’s decision, and for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
He added that Malaysia welcomed the EU’s proposal to convene an international peace conference in drafting a roadmap for a two-state solution for Palestine and Israel. The end of the decades-old Israel occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territories is crucial for a viable two-state solution.
At the 3rd EU IPMF, the Foreign Minister joined other countries from the EU and Indo-Pacific in sharing views on common challenges and potential areas of cooperation.
The Foreign Minister participated in the roundtable discussion on “The Green Transition: Partnering for a Sustainable Future”, where he acknowledged that Green Transition played a pivotal role in the pursuit of sustainable development and environmental stewardship.
He also expressed Malaysia’s commitment in achieving net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050, as outlined in Malaysia’s National Energy Transition Roadmap, and strongly urged developed nations to support the developing Global South in making the transition to green energy.
At the side-lines of the 24th AEMM and 3rd EU IPMF, the Foreign Minister had the opportunity to have bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain, as well as Foreign Ministers of Brunei Darussalam, Sri Lanka, and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
The Foreign Minister also had an engagement with key stakeholders to discuss issues related to challenges and opportunities concerning investments, sustainability and commodities, especially Malaysian palm oil. He also met with the Malaysian diaspora in Brussels.
PUTRAJAYA
4 February 2024