00:00I would like to invite Premier Minister Mancio.
00:30Why? There's peace in the region.
00:34We establish extremely close relationship with the leaders.
00:39Any issue, say Myanmar, we say, well, we have to find consensus.
00:44When I decided to go to Bangkok to meet the military junta
00:49and the opposition Prime Minister, the two Prime Ministers in the same country,
00:56I consulted all leaders of ASEAN.
00:58Can I do that?
01:00Because there was a terrible earthquake, that they need to have a ceasefire,
01:06that we need to have humanitarian efforts.
01:09And without exception, all of them, Singapore, Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia,
01:15Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, all said, please proceed.
01:20And after that, I immediately called them to tell them about the level of success
01:25and engagement that we have.
01:27So I'm not saying that this is due to one country or Malaysia, no.
01:32But because of this trust and comradeship and engagement between the leaders of ASEAN.
01:40And I'm very fortunate to be given that trust to coordinate the efforts.
01:45So do not fear innovation, creativity, and the preparedness to state what is right,
01:55what is just, what is honorable.
01:58Now, I state this because we are in a geopolitical flux that casts a shadow not only on security issues,
02:11but on trade and economic cooperation, but on trade and economic cooperation.
02:15There is rise.
02:17Can you imagine in 2025, after all the GATT and WTO and multilateral arrangements,
02:24now we have the rise of protectionism, arbitrary imposition on tariffs, unilateral sanctions,
02:36and economic decoupling that threatens the entire system that the world has somewhat agreed upon.
02:45So for a trading nation like Malaysia and my colleagues in ASEAN,
02:55this is nothing short from existential threat.
03:00We are a trading nation.
03:03We have become one of the hub for semiconductor production chips in the region.
03:09And of course, there's a production, both initially the back end now,
03:15advanced design, advanced packaging.
03:19And suddenly, we are threatened with this.
03:24So that's why we must continue to promote this sort of understanding,
03:28for what?
03:31For world order, for understanding, for peace, for collaboration, for open trade.
03:37That's essentially why you have an international institution like this.
03:40Why Rector Tuganaf, I think, this morning alone told me about at least six times
03:46about the need to enhance cooperation and collaboration.
03:51After this speech, he will say for the seventh time.
03:53But he is saying something which is appropriate and pertinent,
04:00that the days of protectionism must be over.
04:07So it must be rule-based world order.
04:10So I represent my colleagues in ASEAN, fostering this issue.
04:18That's why we support CPTPP, RCEP.
04:23And now, with Russian support, mind you,
04:27the country that proposed malicious entry as a partner in BRICS was Russian Federation.
04:34It was President Putin that proposed in last year's meeting
04:40and, of course, supported by China, India, Ethiopia.
04:45We are very fortunate.
04:48So that's where BRICS stands for.
04:50And I think we in Malaysia look forward to opening up trade and market
04:57from traditional partners.
04:59Now, notwithstanding what I've said, please remember that the United States
05:05is the largest investor into Malaysia and our largest trading partner.
05:12But it doesn't stop us from stating what we believe is right and honourable.
05:17Malaysia is chairing ASEAN this year.
05:21And my question is as follows.
05:23In an era of political turbulence and economic uncertainty,
05:28how can ASEAN foster unity among its member states
05:32to effectively bridge the world
05:35and create a cohesive regional response to global challenges?
05:41Who told you to ask such difficult questions?
05:45Thank you. Thank you very much.
05:47Now, ASEAN takes a common position on most issues.
05:52Of course, there are different countries, different emphasis and bias.
05:58But generally, for example, say the most contentious
06:01or more difficult conflict that we are facing,
06:05I mean issue that we are facing, say Myanmar.
06:09The consensus is okay.
06:11Do whatever it takes, engage however,
06:13but remain the five principles.
06:16We call it five-point consensus.
06:19And that's why in my engagement with Malaysia and talk,
06:22they know that I will throw the parameters agreed upon.
06:28Now, on tariff, we have these bilateral discussions.
06:31All countries in ASEAN are having bilateral engagement with the United States.
06:37But all of them asked, if possible,
06:41for Malaysia as present chair to at least present the ASEAN case.
06:47It's 650 million people, $3 trillion.
06:50It's not small when we see there's one regional block.
06:57So we have both bilateral,
06:59but also the understanding that, you know,
07:01we also speak up for ASEAN.
07:03Now, let us talk about, say, many contentious issues,
07:07say, issue of Gaza.
07:09Of course, there's different levels in degree,
07:11but no one wants this to continue.
07:15All wants to cease fire.
07:17All says you have to respect human dignity.
07:20You know, some may pronounce that you recognize Palestinian state.
07:24Some may take some time.
07:26But no country in ASEAN has condoned
07:29these indiscriminate killings and colonialism of Gaza.
07:35My name is Adam bin Amri,
07:50and I'm also a master's student here.
07:51I'm a master's student here in the Russia-Asean Strategic Partnership.
07:55My question for you today is,
07:57in light of the competing contradictions of influences in major powers,
08:01such as China and the United States,
08:03how can ASEAN in itself navigate its diplomatic strategies
08:07to maintain autonomy while also foraging connections
08:10that will support its member countries' aspirations
08:13to connect themselves with the global community market
08:16amidst this fragmentation.
08:19Thank you very much.
08:20Now, we have been sometimes persuaded or perhaps
08:28to initially take sides.
08:31But ASEAN as a whole adopts a policy,
08:35what is called centrality.
08:37We trade with all.
08:39We should be friends with all.
08:41We are, you know, small nations combined together,
08:43although it becomes big,
08:45you know, $3 trillion, as I said,
08:46and 650 million people.
08:48But still, we should show humility
08:50to say that we engage.
08:52There are problems we discuss.
08:53But they say no.
08:54But China is a potential threat.
08:57I say, threat to whom?
08:59Not to us.
09:01Then they say,
09:02but the South China Sea is still problematic.
09:04I don't deny.
09:06Do you have problems with borders with China?
09:08Yes.
09:09Malaysia is a maritime country.
09:11And we have issues with all countries.
09:16With Thailand, some parts of the border,
09:17with Indonesia, with Brunei,
09:19with Singapore, with Philippines,
09:22with Vietnam.
09:23But we don't go to war.
09:25We are best of friends.
09:27If I feel like I called Prime Minister
09:28of Vietnam, I just called.
09:32With Lawrence, I was glad he won.
09:36Landslide victory.
09:36I mean, we negotiate.
09:41We discuss.
09:41We can resolve.
09:42We can resolve.
09:43With Thailand, some issues,
09:44we can't resolve.
09:45We have joint development authority
09:46for oil exploration together.
09:51So, why is it when it comes to China,
09:54we take a different position?
09:57So, that is the position.
09:58Of course, there are different languages.
10:01For example, the Philippines
10:01have a more complex relationship.
10:04But still, as a whole, we say,
10:05okay, we should exercise restraint
10:08and engage in the dialogue.
10:09The different levels of partnership.
10:13But as a whole, it's centrality.
10:17And it is important.
10:19At the end of this month,
10:21ASEAN will have a special conference
10:24with GAF countries, the six,
10:28and China for economic summit.
10:32Oh, they see, but you are biased now.
10:33It's not true.
10:35Because early this year,
10:37I wrote to President Donald J. Trump
10:39on behalf of ASEAN.
10:40I said, we want this United States-ASEAN meeting
10:44to go ahead.
10:45So, it's very smart.
10:46You write to ASEAN.
10:48Can we meet ASEAN-USA?
10:49Then you go to China.
10:51Can we have a session?
10:53And I'm here in Russia.
10:54We are great friends.
10:55That is what I think
10:58geopolitical relations is all about.
11:02Okay?
Comments