KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia has reiterated that it is ready to join its Southeast Asian neighbours in signing the Asean-European Union Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement (Cata), said Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.
Reiterating the country’s position in his intervention at the 23rd Asean-EU Ministerial Meeting, the foreign minister said the decision was made with the understanding that ratification will be allowed at a later stage, when Malaysia is ready to implement obligations under the agreement.
“We look forward to the conclusion of negotiations with the EU on this important inter-regional air transport agreement in the near future,” he told the meeting yesterday.
The meeting, held virtually due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, was chaired by Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, and attended by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and European Commission vice-president Josep Borrell Fontelles.
The meeting was attended in full by all 10 Asean foreign ministers, along with the 27 foreign ministers of the EU.
The Asean-EU Cata will be the first-ever bloc-to-bloc deal aimed at enhancing air connectivity between and beyond Asean and the EU when it comes into effect.
In view of Covid-19, which has significantly wounded the global economy, said Hishammuddin, Asean and the EU must redouble efforts to develop the framework of the parameters of the Asean-EU free trade agreement.
He also called on Asean and the EU to work together to address all forms of extremism, and explore sustainable and workable solutions to counter the spread and influence of extreme ideologies.
“Notwithstanding our national efforts, being preoccupied and focused on recovering from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, I am confident that a great majority of our people, both from Asean and the EU, cannot afford to, and must not, lose sight of our main priority, which is for peace to prevail in the world.
“We must do our part to promote peace, stability and prosperity – not allowing extremism and hate speech to succeed and thrive, disharmonising our societies.” – Bernama, December 2, 2020
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