Malaysia Assures Belgium Of Open Access In South China Sea – Fadillah
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has assured Belgium that maritime access through the South China Sea will remain open, said Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
He emphasised that ASEAN is committed to maintaining peace, neutrality, and open access in the region despite concerns over disruptions to global shipping.
Fadillah conveyed this during his meeting with Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister, Maxime Prevot, who is also the Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Development Cooperation.
“So we gave the assurance earlier that as far as ASEAN is concerned, we guarantee that open access will not face any restrictions because we are indeed a country that ensures security, neutrality, and also peace.
“That is the principle upheld by ASEAN countries,” he told reporters after hosting a luncheon for Prevot and the Belgian delegation here on Thursday.
He said Prevot had sought Malaysia’s assessment of the regional security situation, including in the South China Sea, and the possibility of similar disruptions occurring as seen in the Strait of Hormuz.
Fadillah, who is also the Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, said both parties discussed strengthening Malaysia-Belgium relations by expanding cooperation between governments, businesses, and the people.
He said Prevot also expressed Belgium’s commitment to increase bilateral trade and would review its travel advisory for Sabah.
The two leaders also exchanged views on Malaysia’s halal ecosystem, with Belgium suggesting that Malaysia’s halal standards be explored with a model that could be more widely adopted within the European Union.
Fadillah added that both countries also discussed opportunities to deepen cooperation in the energy transition, particularly through Belgium’s expertise in new technologies and advanced materials, while encouraging greater investment from Belgian companies in Malaysia.
The Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tan Sri Amran Mohamed Zin, and Belgium’s Ambassador to Malaysia, Peter Van Acker, were also present at the luncheon.
Prevot arrived in Malaysia on Thursday for a two-day working visit, his first to the country since assuming office in February 2025.
Sinar Harian