Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said Sunday ASEAN would review Ukraine's application to become a Sectoral Dialogue Partner, with further deliberations to be undertaken at the senior officials' level. Speaking at a news conference following a meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers, held in Kuala Lumpur, Hasan said the case was sent to the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) to explore how the grouping can engage with Ukraine moving forward.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Hasan emphasized the need to explore how best ASEAN can collaborate with Ukraine under the agreement, noting that the review process is ongoing and urging the SOM to continue its examination. He highlighted the importance of promoting ASEAN's unity and centrality in its interactions with foreign partners, asserting that such relationships should be established through ASEAN-run mechanisms.
The Malaysian foreign minister further underscored the critical importance of strengthening ASEAN's unity and centrality amid increasing global challenges and uncertainties. Established in 1967, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) includes Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia in its membership.
ASEAN also maintains key strategic partnerships with major global players such as China, Japan, South Korea, the US, India, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the EU.