ASEAN has called on member states of the East Asia Summit (EAS) to take a firm stance in ending what it described as Israel’s “80-year impunity” over its treatment of Palestinians, particularly in light of the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Delivering Malaysia’s opening address at the 15th EAS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on Thursday, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan urged the forum to uphold principles of justice, equality and universal human dignity.
“The longest-running conflict in modern history, rooted in the illegal occupation of Palestinian land, must be brought to an end,” he said. “The 80 years of impunity have emboldened Israel to commit blatant humanitarian crimes. This is unacceptable and must stop immediately.”
He cited the deliberate denial of humanitarian aid and basic supplies, which has led to widespread starvation among Palestinian children, as examples of grave violations that demand international accountability.
Malaysia, as ASEAN Chair for 2025, stressed the importance of EAS not only as a platform for dialogue, but also as a mechanism to pursue solutions to global conflicts based on international law and the United Nations Charter.
ASEAN also reiterated its support for peace efforts in both the Middle East and Ukraine, aligning itself with international humanitarian law.
Mohamad further called on EAS nations to remain committed to the forum’s original mission—to strengthen strategic trust through diplomacy and respect for the rule of law.
“With a combined GDP exceeding USD68 trillion, EAS members represent over half of the global economy,” he said. “This forum must serve not just as a dialogue platform, but as a strategic engine for shared prosperity and regional resilience.”
He added that peace and stability are essential to sustained progress.
Thursday’s programme also included the 13th Mekong–Republic of Korea (ROK) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the 32nd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), and the 4th Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development (CEAPAD IV), which brought together regional partners in support of Palestine’s development efforts.
ASEAN Considering Full Dialogue Partner Status for Türkiye
ASEAN is contemplating elevating Türkiye’s status from sectoral to full dialogue partner, reflecting its growing engagement with the regional bloc, Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said on Friday.
Speaking after chairing a trilateral meeting between Malaysia, Türkiye and the ASEAN Secretariat, Mohamad said Türkiye has made notable contributions across several sectors including technology, security, defence, agriculture and education.
“So we are considering how to bring Türkiye in as a full dialogue partner of ASEAN in the near future, God willing,” he told reporters after the 30-minute meeting, which also included Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn.
The session was held on the sidelines of the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM-58) and related events, currently taking place at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) under Malaysia’s 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship.
Mohamad also noted increasing global interest in ASEAN partnerships, but said the grouping had temporarily paused new admissions.
“Many countries have applied and are waiting to become sectoral or full dialogue partners of ASEAN. But we have imposed a moratorium because there are simply too many applications,” he said.
He added that ASEAN currently counts 11 dialogue partners, and any future additions must be carefully assessed to ensure the bloc’s mechanisms are not overextended.
Held under the theme ‘Inclusivity and Sustainability’, AMM-58 spans four days and includes 24 ministerial-level sessions, encompassing consultations with ASEAN’s dialogue and sectoral partners. - July 11, 2025
