ID :
351711
Thu, 12/18/2014 - 10:25
Auther :

2014: UNSC Membership, Asean Chairmanship, Highlights Of Malaysia's Successful Foreign Poilcy

By S. Chandravathani KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 18 (Bernama) -- The year, 2014 marks an important milestone for Malaysia's foreign policy, successfully securing a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and assuming the Asean chairmanship next year. Another highlight for Malaysia's international relations in 2014 was the maiden visit by United States (US) President Barack Obama in April, the second by a US president to this country, after Lyndon B. Johnsons's in 1966. This proves beyond doubt that the world recognises Malaysia's ability in playing a proactive role in the global arena, as well as promoting global peace and mediation, based on moderate approach. Winning the prestigious seat on Oct 16 in New York, and representing the Asia-Pacific region, has given Malaysia the voice to call for negotiations as a way to resolve international conflicts peacefully, and strengthen the voice of Asian and Muslim nations in the 15-member UNSC. Malaysia was elected a non-permanent member of UNSC after it secured 187 out of the 192 votes cast during the election for the 2015-2016 term, which took place at the United Nations (UN) in New York. In welcoming the success, Prime Minister Najib Razak said Malaysia planned to expand the moderation agenda at the global level, now that the country had been given a say in the most powerful body. He said in addition, Malaysia intended to encourage negotiation as a solution to conflicts, support UN peacekeeping and aid in the process of bringing peace to nations in conflict zones. This is the fourth time Malaysia has won a seat in the UNSC. The first time was in 1965, before being elected again in 1989/1990. It secured a seat for the third time in 1999/2000. The UNSC has a total of 15 members, five of which are permanent and are held by China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the US, all of which have veto powers. Malaysia's high profile in the diplomacy and foreign affairs continues with the 2015 chairmanship of Asean, taking over from Myanmar, with Kuala Lumpur pledging to steer the 47-year-old regional grouping towards an integrated and people-centred Asean Community. With high expectations, Najib said Malaysia would play a key role in steering the work of the 10-nation organisation towards the establishment of the people-centred Asean Community, and help to develop the region's 10-year-post integration plan, to guide Asean's continued growth from 2016 to 2025. Vice President-Policy, US-Asean Business Council Marc Mealy described Malaysia as well-positioned to successfully shape the Asean Economic Community (AEC), slated to be implemented in 2015, during its role as Asean Chair. So far this year, Malaysia achieved significant milestones in terms of intesifying engagement with key players at the global scene, with high-level visits from among others, China, US, Australia, Netherlands, Thailand and Banglandesh. Besides that, Najib also visited among others, China, South Korea, US for the UN General Assembly, the Netherlands, Myanmar for the 25th Asean Summit, Azerbaijan, Milan for the 10th summit of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), Australia and Kazakhstan. This has contributed to further boosting political relations and strengthening of economic diplomacy for the mutual promotion of trade, investment and tourism potential with these countries. For instance, relations betwen Malaysia and China were elevated to a higher level when Najib visited China to mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties to continue the legacy left behind by his father and the country's second prime minister, Abdul Razak Hussein, where both nations stand to gain much from the bilateral ties. In fact, China is now Malaysia's largest trading partner and Malaysia is China's biggest trading partner within Asean. And on China's side, in commemorating the 40th anniversary of bilateral relations, it has loaned a pair of Giant Panda to Malaysia, part of the nation's panda diplomacy. Chinese President Xi Jinping described the 40th anniversary as one of the amazing chapters in the history of the relationship between the two nations and called for higher political wisdom and stronger political will to establish a development blue print for the bilateral ties to achieve continuous fruitful results. On March 8, with the disappearance of the Malaysia Airlines (MAS) Flight MH370, the close ties between Malaysia and China was tested, and fortunately, both nations continue to sail through smoothly with strengthened diplomatic ties. Flight MH370 with 239 people on board and enroute to Beijing, disappeared from the radar over the South China Sea between Malaysia and Vietnam, about an hour after take-off from the KL International Airport. In less than four months after that tragedy, Malaysia was again tested on her ability to deal with another tragedy involving MAS Flight MH17, which was shot down over eastern Ukraine on July 17, as it was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur with 298 people on board. Najib's "secret diplomacy" with pro-Russian rebel leader Alexander Borodai to reach an agreement to retrieve the bodies and black boxes from the downed aircraft proved beyond doubt that Malaysia's approach to any conflict or crisis, that is, solution through negotiations, always bore fruit. In March, Najib was in Manila to witness the historic Malaysia-brokered peace treaty between the Philippine Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, another important chapter in our contribution to regional peace and stability. Obama's visit to Malaysia on April 26 was another signal for closer bilateral relations between the world's sole super power and a moderate Muslim nation increasingly promoting moderate approach to conflicts besetting today's world. With such a unique friendship shared between Obama and Najib, they both brought the US-Malaysia relations to a comprehensive partnership, with greater collaboration on economy, security, education, science, technology and other fields. -- BERNAMA

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