KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, July 11, 2025 – Malaysia welcomed high-level delegations from Türkiye and the ASEAN Secretariat for a triilateral meeting aimed at deepening the ASEAN-Türkiye Sectoral Dialogue Partnership. The meeting, attended by His Excellency Hakan Fidan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye, and His Excellency Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN, marks a significant step in enhancing cooperation across multiple domains.
Established in 2017, the ASEAN-Türkiye Sectoral Dialogue Partnership has seen steady growth, focusing on shared objectives of peace, economic resilience, and people-to-people connectivity. The current meeting builds on this foundation, with discussions centered around the Practical Cooperation Areas (PCA) 2024-2028, which outline a forward-looking framework for collaboration in political-security cooperation, trade and digital economy, education, disaster management, and sustainable development.
Malaysia emphasized the potential for expanding defence industry cooperation and technology transfers, highlighting Türkiye’s expertise in e-governance as a valuable resource for advancing digital integration and diversifying supply chains. Economic relations are expected to flourish further through initiatives like the Türkiye-ASEAN Business and Investment Forum, which supports micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and fosters innovation partnerships.
On the socio-cultural front, Malaysia welcomed initiatives such as the Türkiye Scholarships-ASEAN Joint Scholarship Programme, the training of ASEAN diplomats, and proposed cooperation in technical and vocational education and digital skills development. These efforts are seen as crucial for reinforcing people-to-people links and nurturing lasting cross-cultural ties.
The meeting also addressed global issues, with Malaysia underscoring the shared values between ASEAN and Türkiye as natural partners in championing multilateralism, peace, stability, prosperity, equality, justice, and humanity. A key focus was the call for a peaceful and just resolution to conflicts worldwide, particularly the situation in Gaza. Malaysia urged for Israel to be held accountable for its violations of international law, warning that impunity could lead to further regional instability.
In closing, Malaysia expressed a commitment to strengthening cooperation and charting a clear path forward that delivers tangible benefits for the peoples of both regions. The triilateral meeting is seen as a pivotal moment in enhancing the strategic partnership between Malaysia, Türkiye, and ASEAN, with a focus on addressing both regional and global challenges through collaborative efforts.