Malaysia to Co-Chair CEAPAD IV with Japan in 2025

Malaysia is set to co-chair the upcoming ministerial meeting of the Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development (CEAPAD) alongside Japan in July 2025.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim made the announcement during a joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in Putrajaya today. The meeting will focus on the reconstruction of Gaza and Palestine, a cause of great significance to Malaysia and the broader Muslim world.

CEAPAD, launched by Japan in 2013, serves as a regional platform to support Palestinian state-building efforts by leveraging the expertise and resources of East Asian nations. Anwar also indicated that Malaysia would consult with ASEAN counterparts on the possibility of hosting the CEAPAD meeting in Kuala Lumpur during the ASEAN Summit.

In addition to CEAPAD discussions, both leaders addressed key regional issues, including maintaining stability in the South China Sea and collaborative efforts to resolve the crisis in Myanmar, in line with the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus.

Prime Minister Ishiba emphasized Malaysia’s strategic role as a key connector between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. He reiterated Japan’s commitment to working closely with Malaysia, particularly during its ASEAN chairmanship, through initiatives such as the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and efforts to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

This collaboration underscores the strengthening diplomatic ties between Malaysia and Japan, as well as their shared commitment to supporting Palestinian development and addressing regional challenges.