Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has outlined Malaysia’s key priorities during the second day of the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, Philippines, focusing on regional unity, energy security, food resilience and geopolitical stability.
Speaking at the summit’s plenary session and Leaders’ Retreat, Anwar stressed the need to strengthen ASEAN cohesion in facing geopolitical tensions, energy supply risks and food security challenges.
He said Malaysia voiced full support for the ASEAN Power Grid initiative and efforts to expand strategic cooperation between ASEAN, the Gulf Cooperation Council and China.
At the same time, Anwar called for stronger regional emergency rice reserve mechanisms to help contain food inflation and urged closer cooperation to protect ASEAN citizens in conflict zones through enhanced information-sharing and consular assistance.
During the Leaders’ Retreat, Anwar highlighted that ASEAN leaders reaffirmed the bloc’s commitment to remaining united, agile and forward-looking amid growing global uncertainty, while accelerating digital economy cooperation, intra-ASEAN trade and regional connectivity.
“The leaders also stressed the importance of dialogue, international law and peaceful dispute resolution, while positioning ASEAN as a driver of fair, sustainable and inclusive growth,” he said.
Meanwhile, he revealed that three key documents were adopted during the Summit — the Cebu Protocol, the ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on the Middle East crisis and the ASEAN Maritime Cooperation Declaration.
“Malaysia also pushed for the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to stabilise global energy supplies, while reiterating calls for compliance with the Five-Point Consensus on Myanmar and the completion of the South China Sea Code of Conduct negotiations,” he said.
On the sidelines of the summit, Anwar said he held bilateral meetings with leaders from Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand as part of Malaysia’s ongoing diplomatic engagement.
