OPENING REMARKS Y.B. DATO’ SERI UTAMA HAJI MOHAMAD BIN HAJI HASAN MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, MALAYSIA ASEAN JOINT FOREIGN AND ECONOMIC MINISTERS’ MEETING 25 OCTOBER 2025

OPENING REMARKS

Y.B. DATO' SERI UTAMA HAJI MOHAMAD BIN HAJI HASAN

MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, MALAYSIA

ASEAN JOINT FOREIGN AND ECONOMIC MINISTERS' MEETING

25 OCTOBER 2025

Distinguished ASEAN Foreign Ministers and Economic Ministers,

Foreign and Economic Ministers of Timor-Leste,

Secretary-General of ASEAN,

Members of the ASEAN Geoeconomic Task Force,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

1. It is my honour, in my capacity as Chair of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting, to co-chair this Joint Ministerial Meeting.

2. Our agenda today is to address the shifting geopolitical and geoeconomic currents impacting ASEAN. And indeed, it is a timely one.

3. We meet at a time when the global order is undergoing profound changes. Among these are intensifying great power competition, the reconfiguring of supply chains, and the blurring of lines between technology, security, and economics.

4. The consequences of these are far-reaching and tangible. Protectionism is on the rise. Multilateralism is under pressure. Economic decisions are now frequently shaped by strategic imperatives, rather than purely commercial ones.

5. In navigating this new reality, ASEAN's approach must be clear, coherent, and cohesive. We must remain steadfast in advancing our shared strategic interests, which are anchored in ASEAN Centrality and our unity of purpose.

6. As the world's fifth largest economic bloc, ASEAN cannot afford ambiguity. We must speak with a clear and united voice. One that champions openness, neutrality, and the long-term prosperity of our region.

7. We must continue to advocate for an open, inclusive, and rules-based regional order, underpinned by international law, that fosters cooperation, not confrontation. dialogue and cooperation, not confrontation.

8. "ASEAN Vision 2045", articulates precisely this aspiration. It is a forward-looking blueprint which embodies our vision of strategic equilibrium, and encourages dialogue, building trust to ensure that this region remains a platform for collaboration among all partners.

9. ASEAN recognises that trade and investment are no longer insulated from the turbulence of geopolitics. Economic interdependence can be a source of both vulnerability and stability.

10. Our task is to ensure that interdependence becomes a bridge for cooperation, rather than a tool of coercion.

11. In this regard, while deepening our ties with traditional partners, we must also diversify and expand our economic engagements, forging new partnerships that enhance ASEAN's resilience and competitiveness.

Excellencies,

12. The traditional division between foreign policy and economic policy, no longer holds. Geopolitics and geoeconomics are more deeply intertwined than ever before.

13. ASEAN must therefore break down silos, and act in concert, to present a unified and strategic front. This Joint Meeting is a testament to our shared recognition of this need.

14. We must seize this opportunity to align our efforts, streamline our strategies, and ensure that ASEAN remains proactive, coordinated, and forward-looking, in defending and advancing our region's political, socio, and economic interests.

15. Let us send a strong, united message - that ASEAN is not a passive bystander in today's world, but a proactive force for stability, openness, and peace.

16. Our continued relevance will be measured by our ability to engage all partners constructively, while resisting the gravitational pull, of rivalry and polarisation.

17. Let us reaffirm ASEAN's enduring commitment to peace, stability, and prosperity. Where trade is not only a driver of development, but the cornerstone of regional harmony.

Thank you.