Malaysia Takes Diplomatic Center Stage as Kuala Lumpur Hosts 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting

KUALA LUMPUR||July 7 (Voice of Malaysia) – Malaysia is set to take the international diplomatic spotlight this week as it hosts the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) and related events from July 8 to 11 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), under the banner of its 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship theme, “Inclusivity and Sustainability.”

This high-level annual event will bring together over 40 foreign ministers and representatives from international organizations, marking one of the most significant diplomatic gatherings in the region this year. The meetings aim to address urgent global and regional issues, strengthen multilateral cooperation, and advance ASEAN’s vision of peace, security, and sustainable development.

Foreign Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Seri Amran Mohamed Zin, speaking at a press conference on Sunday, confirmed the strong turnout of ASEAN member states and their external partners. All ASEAN foreign ministers are expected to attend, except for Myanmar, which will be represented by a senior official from its foreign ministry. Timor-Leste, ASEAN’s newest member-in-waiting, will attend as an observer.

“This is more than just another item on the diplomatic calendar. The robust participation underscores ASEAN’s growing strategic relevance on the global stage,” said Amran.

Among the prominent international attendees are China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, signaling the deepening interest of global powers in Southeast Asia’s evolving geopolitical landscape.

The 58th AMM will commence with an interface meeting between ASEAN foreign ministers and representatives of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR). This will be followed by discussions on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (SEANWFZ), reaffirming ASEAN’s commitment to regional peace and disarmament.

Malaysia is also expected to announce the accession of two new countries—one from Africa and one from South America—to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), reflecting ASEAN’s expanding global partnerships.

Throughout the four-day event, a total of 24 ASEAN-level foreign ministers’ meetings will be convened. These include bilateral meetings with ASEAN’s key dialogue partners, including Australia, Canada, China, the European Union, India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

In addition, four trilateral meetings between Malaysia, the ASEAN Secretariat, and sectoral dialogue partners—Brazil, Norway, Switzerland, and Türkiye—are scheduled. The East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the ASEAN Regional Forum will also take place, focusing on broader security and regional cooperation.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, as chair of the AMM, will preside over the meetings. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is scheduled to deliver the keynote address and officially open the summit on Wednesday.

On the sidelines of the AMM, Malaysia will also host the Fourth Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development (CEAPAD IV). Co-chaired by Malaysia, Japan, and Palestine, the conference will focus on capacity-building efforts, infrastructure reconstruction, and humanitarian aid in Palestine.

This marks the fifth time Malaysia is chairing ASEAN, having previously held the role in 1977, 1997, 2005, and 2015—a testament to the country’s long-standing commitment to regional leadership and diplomacy.