Diplomatic delegations arrive in KL for Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting under Malaysia's 2025 chairmanship
Among the early arrivals was Laos Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Phongsavanh Sisoulath, who landed at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) at 8.05pm on Sunday.
Myanmar Ministry of Foreign Affairs representative Kyaw Nyun Oo and Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Thailand Eksiri Pintaruchi were also among those who arrived.
Senior officials from several Asean countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei and Indonesia, also touched down on Sunday.
The 58th AMM and related meetings, to be held under Malaysia's 2025 Asean Chairmanship themed 'Inclusivity and Sustainability,' will feature 24 ministerial-level meetings, including sessions with Asean Dialogue Partners and Sectoral Dialogue Partners.
The event is expected to gather about 1,500 delegates, including foreign ministers from Asean member states, Timor-Leste, Asean Dialogue Partners, Asean Regional Forum (ARF) participating countries, Sectoral Dialogue Partners and senior officials from the Asean Secretariat.
Malaysia is hosting the AMM as part of its fifth Asean Chairmanship, having previously held the role in 1977, 1997, 2005 and 2015. — Bernama
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Malay Mail
32 minutes ago
- Malay Mail
Trump slaps 25pc tariff on Malaysian goods, tells country to ‘build in America'
KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 — US President Donald Trump has announced a 25 per cent tariff on all Malaysian products entering the United States, effective August 1. The move, detailed in a letter to His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia, marks a sharp escalation in US-Malaysia trade relations. Trump cited Malaysia's 'Tariff, and Non Tariff, Policies and Trade Barriers' as the basis for the decision. The president claimed the US has suffered 'many years' of unsustainable trade deficits with Malaysia. He described the imbalance as a threat to both the US economy and national security. Trump further expressed disappointment over the lack of reciprocity in the bilateral trading relationship. 'Our relationship has been, unfortunately, far from Reciprocal,' he wrote in the letter dated July 7. He added that goods transshipped to avoid the tariff would still face the highest applicable rate. Trump suggested that Malaysia could avoid the new tariff by encouraging companies to manufacture in the US. 'There will be no Tariff if Malaysia, or companies within your Country, decide to build or manufacture product within the United States,' he wrote. The letter left open the possibility of further tariff hikes if Malaysia raised its own trade barriers. Trump said any increase in Malaysian tariffs would be matched by equivalent US tariff additions. The letter appeared to blend formal diplomacy with campaign-style rhetoric aimed at domestic audiences. He also highlighted the US market as the world's most attractive, calling it 'the Number One Market in the World, by far.'


Borneo Post
34 minutes ago
- Borneo Post
US raises tariff on Malaysian goods to 25 pct, effective Aug 1
In a letter to Anwar posted on Truth Social account on Monday, Trump says 'the 25 per cent number is far less than what is needed to eliminate the trade deficit disparity we have with your country'. – AFP photo KUALA LUMPUR (July 8): The United States has imposed a higher tariff of 25 per cent on any and all Malaysian products sent into the country, separate from all sectoral tariffs, effective Aug 1, this year. This is one percentage point higher compared to what had been announced in April. In a letter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim posted on Truth Social account on Monday, US President Donald Trump said 'the 25 per cent number is far less than what is needed to eliminate the trade deficit disparity we have with your country'. However, the letter also said that there would be no tariff if Malaysia, or Malaysian companies, decide to build or manufacture products within the United States and that Washington 'will do everything possible to get approvals quickly, professionally, and routinely – in other words, in a matter of weeks'. Trump also said that if Malaysia decided to raise tariffs, the number that the country imposed will be added onto the 25 per cent that US is charging. Malaysia has been negotiating the US tariff with Washington since April, with the aim to lessen the 24 per cent tariff imposed earlier, with the latest talks held on June 18 this year. This announcement came ahead of the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's first trip to Kuala Lumpur for the Asean-US post ministerial conference and other meetings of the 58th Asean Foreign Ministers Meeting and related meetings starting today. donald trump lead malaysia Marco Rubio US tariff


Free Malaysia Today
43 minutes ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Neutrality difficult in unstable world, says Ukraine's acting ambassador
Denys Mykhailiuk, Ukraine's acting ambassador to Malaysia, says 'neutrality' requires nations to take balanced, visible and consistent actions, including through condemnation when norms are violated. PETALING JAYA : In today's fractured geopolitical landscape, the idea of neutrality is facing unprecedented challenges. As the war in Ukraine drags on and tensions escalate in Asia, many smaller or non-aligned countries, including Malaysia, are left to confront an uncomfortable truth: neutrality may no longer be enough. 'To be really neutral is very difficult in the world, which is not stable,' says Denys Mykhailiuk, Ukraine's acting ambassador to Malaysia. 'Strategic neutrality is typically reserved for strong states that can defend their sovereignty. For many in the Global South, what is described as neutrality is more accurately a form of non-alignment,' he said. Malaysia, traditionally proud of its non-aligned foreign policy, continues to engage with all parties. Yet experts suggest this approach demands closer scrutiny in an era where global powers are increasingly acting outside international norms. Munira Mustaffa. 'Neutrality represents a deliberate political stance of impartiality,' says Munira Mustaffa, executive director of Chasseur Group. 'Silence, conversely, often reflects passive non-engagement.' ISIS foreign policy head Thomas Daniel echoed this sentiment, saying that 'many countries use 'neutrality' or 'non-alignment' to avoid taking positions on issues they perceive as harming their national interests.' Thomas Daniel. Malaysia has the right to stay neutral—but should it? According to Mykhailiuk, neutrality is not simply about not taking sides. It requires balance, visibility and consistent actions, including condemnation when norms are violated. Without this, what is referred to as 'neutrality' risks becoming 'complicity'. Mykhailiuk warns that failure to respond to Russia's war will send a global signal. 'If the aggressor comes out unpunished or rewarded by the new territorial requirements, it will definitely (provoke a) superpower to act on its own discretion, using the threat of force or force itself in relations with the smaller states,' he said. 'Imperial thinking' in the 21st century This concern is especially relevant in an age of rising imperial ambitions. While Russia's invasion of Ukraine and China's assertive stance in the South China Sea differ in method, both reflect a common mindset: historical entitlement as justification for modern-day dominance. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled that China had no legal basis to claim historic rights within the so-called Nine-Dash Line. The ruling was labelled 'ill-founded' by China, and ignored. 'My perception is that China's actions involve sustained coercion and grey-zone tactics, while Russia's strategy is outright aggression,' says Munira. 'But for smaller post-colonial states like Malaysia or Ukraine, both present serious sovereignty challenges: they must navigate between protecting sovereignty and avoiding confrontation with powers that view international law as secondary to their historical claims.' Malaysia is no stranger to the consequences of great power impunity. The 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over Ukraine, which killed 298 people including 43 Malaysians, remains a wound in the national memory. Russia's 2015 veto at the UN Security Council blocked efforts to establish an international tribunal. 'Deepening ties with Russia without addressing this tragedy sends a troubling signal,' says Munira. 'It suggests that such actions can be overlooked. Any perception that MH17 is being sidelined would undermine confidence in international accountability mechanisms.' This issue cuts deeper when viewed alongside Malaysia's expanding diplomatic and trade ties with Russia, including support for BRICS membership and a recent increase in direct cooperation. 'The balance becomes increasingly complex,' said Munira, pointing to contradictions between Malaysia's humanitarian support for Ukraine and its diplomatic silence on Russian aggression. This imperial logic, where great powers act as though smaller nations exist for absorption or domination, can be useful for some countries, and it is increasingly visible. Beyond Russia and China, other global powers are also demonstrating imperial tendencies. 'The risk of 'imperial thinking' is reinforced by the recent behaviour of—not just Russia—but also China, the United States and Israel,' says Daniel. These trends are particularly worrying for smaller nations that rely on international law as their first line of defence. Asean's role This makes not only the Malaysian position vital, but Asean's as well, being an organisation of countries that want to be important players in the region. The Asean Charter is clear about provisions like the peaceful settlements of disputes through dialogue and consultation, the renunciation of aggression, and upholding international law. However, as Munira explains, Asean's recent diplomatic record has been mixed. Only four of ten Asean members attended the 2024 Ukraine Peace Summit in Switzerland; with only two signing the communiqué. 'This reflects Asean's broader concern that peace efforts must consider multiple perspectives,' she says. Nevertheless, there is space for leadership. 'With over 600 million people and growing markets, Asean can become an important trade and investment partner for Ukraine,' says Mykhailiuk. Not all support has to come with weapons. Malaysia has provided humanitarian support to Ukraine, including medical supplies and essential equipment. In his recent interview with Bernama TV, Mykhailiuk called for more assistance, particularly for post-conflict demining, rescue operations, and energy infrastructure. For Malaysia and other middle powers, the war in Ukraine is not someone else's problem. It is a test of whether the rules that protect the weak from the strong still apply—and whether countries like Malaysia will help uphold them. 'Weakness is temptation,' Mykhailiuk warns. 'So be strong.' Anastasiya Yushchenko is an undergraduate at the City St George's, University of London, and an intern at FMT.