FM Anifah Leads Malaysian Delegation to 50th AMM

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 4 (Bernama) -- Foreign Minister Anifah Aman is leading the Malaysian delegation at the 50th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) and related meetings in Manila, the Philippines, from Aug 2 to 8. In a statement Thursday, the Foreign Ministry said Anifah was accompanied by officials from the ministry and the Permanent Mission of Malaysia to ASEAN. The 50th AMM, it said, would focus on issues related to the ASEAN Community, implementation of the ASEAN Political-Security Blueprint 2025, as well as preparations for the 13th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits to be held in November. “The ministers will also discuss and exchange views on regional and international issues of common concern such as developments in the South China Sea, the situation in the Korean Peninsula, terrorism and extremism, maritime security and other non-traditional security issues,” the statement said. It also said that ASEAN foreign ministers would also attend the Post Ministerial Conferences (PMCs) with their 10 dialogue partners, namely Australia, Canada, China, the European Union, India, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Russia and the United States. Malaysia is the country coordinator for the ASEAN-US Dialogue Relations for the period of 2015-2018. The statement said Anifah and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson would co-chair the PMC + 1 with the US. Apart from the 50th AMM and PMCs, the ASEAN foreign ministers will also participate in the 18th ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the 7th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the 24th ASEAN Regional Forum. On the sidelines of these meetings, Anifah will hold several bilateral meetings with his counterparts from ASEAN and dialogue partners to discuss and strengthen cooperation on strategic issues of mutual interest,” it said. At the conclusion of the 50th AMM and related meetings, the foreign ministers are expected to adopt a number of outcome documents, including the 50th AMM joint communique which will highlight the discussions and decisions made during the meetings. As the finale, the Philippines will host the Grand Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of ASEAN on Aug 8 to celebrate the establishment of ASEAN that will also include a tribute to the founding fathers of ASEAN, according to the statement. -- BERNAMA