ASEAN is laying firm groundwork for the future, demonstrating a renewed commitment to inclusivity and long-term resilience through the ASEAN Community Vision (ACV) 2045, said Malaysia’s Foreign Minister, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
Speaking at the gala dinner held in conjunction with the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) and related events on Thursday evening, Mohamad stressed the importance of forward planning despite the current global uncertainties.
“Together we have dared to envision what ASEAN could become by 2045. That kind of long-term vision does not only take strategy, it takes hardship where the only thing that is predictable is unpredictability,” he said.
“And yes, I’ve heard people say, ‘why plan for 20 years from now, when even planning the next two weeks is difficult in the current global climate?’ But just because we can’t forecast the weather, it doesn’t mean we stop carrying an umbrella. Planning is not about certainty, it is about preparedness and ASEAN is preparing for the future.”
Mohamad also highlighted the nearing accession of Timor-Leste as the bloc’s eleventh member, describing it as a sign of ASEAN’s growing relevance and reach.
“Indeed, our circle is expanding as ASEAN makes friends well beyond our region,” he added.
The dinner, held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), featured a cultural showcase with performances by Artistana from Istana Budaya, Malaysian singer Dayang Nurfaizah, a choir and orchestral ensemble. A light-hearted moment emerged with a ‘durian diplomacy’ gesture as Malaysia served the region’s famously divisive fruit.
“This durian is the king of fruits. Either you like it or you hate it. We are going to have it outside,” Mohamad quipped.
Today marks the final day of the AMM and related meetings, with a series of high-level engagements involving ASEAN Dialogue Partners and global counterparts. These include the Trilateral Meeting between Malaysia, Türkiye and the ASEAN Secretariat, aimed at deepening collaboration frameworks.
Also scheduled are ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conferences with the United Kingdom and the European Union, the 15th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the 13th Mekong–Republic of Korea (ROK) Cooperation Ministerial Meeting, and the 32nd ASEAN Regional Forum.
The day’s programme also features the Fourth Conference on Cooperation Among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development (CEAPAD IV), reinforcing regional support for development efforts in Palestine.
The 58th AMM and its related meetings, held from 8 to 11 July under Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship 2025, are themed “Inclusivity and Sustainability”, and include 24 ministerial-level sessions with ASEAN dialogue and sectoral dialogue partners.
Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan is expected to deliver Malaysia’s closing statement and outline key outcomes at a press conference later today. - July 11, 2025
