The consultation meeting between ASEAN Foreign Ministers and representatives of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) was held today, marking the official opening of the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) series.
Foreign Minister Dato’ Seri Mohamad Hasan will personally chair the meeting after having accompanied Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar on official visits to Italy, France, and Brazil.
In addition to foreign ministers of ASEAN countries, the Foreign Minister of Timor Leste, ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, as well as representatives of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights will also attend this meeting.
As one of the series of related meetings to the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, this annual event will discuss the latest developments in the human rights field among ASEAN countries.
Mohamad Hasan will also chair the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) Commission Meeting, and is scheduled in the afternoon to chair a tripartite meeting with Norway and the ASEAN Secretariat.
Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry Secretary General Dato’ Seri Amran previously stated that this meeting mainly reviews the progress of implementing the plan of action for the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone Treaty.
In addition, the meeting agenda will include discussions on the possibility of Timor Leste joining the treaty, as well as urging nuclear-armed countries to sign the protocol to the treaty—an unresolved issue.
Furthermore, Malaysia, Brazil, and the ASEAN Secretariat will also hold a tripartite meeting, to be attended by senior ASEAN officials and Deputy Secretary-General of the ASEAN Political-Security Community Dato’ Astana.
The 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and related sessions are among Malaysia’s key agenda as it prepares to serve as the ASEAN chair in 2025. During the foreign ministers’ meeting, 24 ministerial meetings will be held, as well as consultations with ASEAN dialogue partners and sectoral dialogue partners.
A series of high-level meetings will be held from the 8th to the 11th of this month, with approximately 1,500 delegates expected to participate. Participants include foreign ministers and senior officials from ASEAN member states, Timor Leste, ASEAN dialogue partners, ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) participants, sectoral dialogue partners, and the ASEAN Secretariat.