KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysian Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein is to discuss the Chinese air force incursion incident with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi at the sidelines of the Special Asean-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in China on Monday.
A statement from the Malaysian Foreign Ministry today said Hishammuddin will be leading the Malaysian delegation to the meeting in Chongqing, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Asean-China dialogue relations.
“All Asean foreign ministers and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, as well as the secretary-general of Asean are expected to attend the meeting,” the statement read.
During the special meeting, the foreign ministers of Asean and China will exchange views and explore collaborative ways and means in dealing with the Covid-19 outbreak, in addition to regional and international matters of common concern.
Hishammuddin is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with Wang Yi on the sidelines to explore a more “substantive and dynamic partnership” in areas including Covid-19 vaccine cooperation, infrastructure development, finance, digital economy, food production, and high-tech agriculture.
The two ministers will also discuss the best way forward in ensuring the recent air force incursion will not recur in the interest of maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea, and avoid any miscalculation or unintended consequences.
Malaysia had summoned the Chinese ambassador in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, and handed a protest note in response to the recent incident in Malaysia’s airspace off the coast of Sarawak.
On May 31, 16 People’s Liberation Army Air Force aircraft were detected to have breached the Malaysian Maritime Zone, prompting the Royal Malaysian Air Force to scramble its jet fighters and Malaysia to hand over the stern diplomatic note. – Bernama, June 5, 2021
