KUALA LUMPUR, July 11 – ASEAN maintained its strategic equilibrium in navigating ties with global powers, engaging with China and the United States and other global powers in a series of high-level discussions on the third day of the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) and Related Meetings held here.
The packed agenda began with the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference (PMC) with China, followed by successive PMC sessions with Australia, Canada, India and New Zealand.
These engagements served as important platforms to deepen cooperation in trade, connectivity, and regional security.
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi reaffirmed Beijing’s economic ties with ASEAN, with Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan announcing that the upgraded ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) Version 3.0 is on track for signing later this year.
“In this context, the signing of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area 3.0, scheduled for later this year, comes at an opportune moment,” said Mohamad, citing the growing urgency of ensuring trade resilience amid global uncertainties.
Established in 2010, the ACFTA covers a combined market of over two billion people. In 2024, ASEAN-China trade reached US$770.94 billion, marking a 10.6 per cent increase year-on-year.
Mohamad also urged all parties to exercise “wisdom and prudence” in managing tensions in the South China Sea and welcomed China’s readiness to become the first Nuclear Weapon State to sign and ratify the Protocol to the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) Treaty without reservations.
Meanwhile, Wang told reporters that China opposes “unjustified tariffs,” a clear reference to recent trade actions by the US.
Later in the afternoon, ASEAN ministers met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is making his first official trip to Asia.
Rubio said he was honoured to begin his regional engagement in Malaysia and described the AMM as a significant event with implications beyond ASEAN.
He also revealed that the US is currently laying diplomatic groundwork for President Donald Trump’s potential appearance at the 47th ASEAN Summit in October.
“It’s possible. We’re currently working on finalising a date,” said Rubio, when asked if Trump would attend the ASEAN-US Summit scheduled to be hosted in Kuala Lumpur this October.
He added that the administration views ASEAN as a key partner in maintaining regional peace and prosperity.
At the same time, Rubio confirmed that the US continues to seek diplomatic solutions to the war in Ukraine, and characterised his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov as “productive, constructive and frank.”
Separately, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that Malaysia still has room to negotiate with the US regarding the new reciprocal tariffs announced by President Trump.
“Rubio stated that the letter was general, but Malaysia still has time to negotiate. He acknowledged Malaysia as a major trading partner of the US in the region and will consider our feedback,” Anwar told reporters after receiving Rubio in Parliament.
To recap, Trump on Monday had imposed new tariffs ranging from 25 per cent to 40 per cent on 14 countries and issued an executive order extending the effective date of these reciprocal tariffs to Aug 1.
The US president later announced via Truth Social that 25 per cent tariffs would be imposed on imports from Japan and South Korea beginning Aug 1, with similar notices sent to Malaysia and 11 other countries.
Today’s momentum continued with PMC sessions involving Japan, Russia, South Korea and the United States, reinforcing ASEAN’s commitment to balanced, inclusive engagement with all dialogue partners.
Malaysia also convened a trilateral meeting with Switzerland and the ASEAN Secretariat, while the 16th Mekong-Japan Cooperation Ministerial Meeting brought together ministers from mainland Southeast Asia and Japan to assess developmental progress in the Mekong region.
The day concluded with a gala dinner hosted by Mohamad and his spouse for fellow foreign ministers and their spouses, showcasing cultural diplomacy and camaraderie amid the day’s intensive diplomatic proceedings.
The 58th AMM and Related Meetings are being held under Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship for 2025, themed “Inclusivity and Sustainability”, with ASEAN reaffirming its commitment to peace, neutrality and multilateral cooperation.
