Why is ASEAN planning a rare joint meeting of foreign and economic ministers?
The Southeast Asian bloc recognises that economic and political realities are no longer inseparable, as the current global environment demands a more sustained policy response, say analysts.
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KUALA LUMPUR: The upcoming joint meeting between ASEAN’s foreign and economic ministers is a rare occurrence, with analysts calling its revival a “dramatic shift” in the bloc’s strategy and a response to a “more volatile global landscape”.
The first known joint meeting took place in 1999, and while a similar meeting was planned in 2003, there is no public record of it taking place. This means the upcoming meeting could be the first in 26 years.
The upcoming meeting was revealed last Friday (Jul 11) by Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan after a gathering with his counterparts from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), saying it would be aimed at developing a “more coordinated regional response to economic headwinds and rising trade tensions”.
The four-day meetings had taken place amid geopolitical and trade uncertainties as United States President Donald Trump announced revised tariffs on countries, including those in Southeast Asia.
