The 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM), held on July 9th, 2025, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, brought together the region’s top diplomats to reaffirm their commitment to unity, peace, and long-term resilience.
Chaired by Malaysian Foreign Minister Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Mohamad Bin Haji Hasan, the gathering focused on the ongoing work of ASEAN Community-building, timely regional concerns, and global developments, framed under this year’s guiding theme of “Inclusivity and Sustainability.”
During the plenary and retreat sessions, the ministers reviewed ASEAN’s progress since the 46th ASEAN Summit, including the anticipated full membership of Timor-Leste in October and the region’s preparations for the 47th ASEAN Summit.
A particular highlight was China’s confirmation of its intent to sign the Southeast Asian Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) treaty, signaling growing multilateral momentum for peace and denuclearization. ASEAN ministers also welcomed Algeria and Uruguay’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), expanding the circle of partners supporting ASEAN’s principles of non-interference and peaceful coexistence.
Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa contributed actively to the discussions, raising shared concerns over online scams, cybercrime, and other issues affecting human security across member economies. He also emphasized regional collaboration in confronting transnational threats, while also calling for greater economic cooperation in the green and digital sectors to maintain stability amid global volatility.
Additionally, Thailand reiterated its support for ASEAN’s role in resolving the Myanmar crisis through the Five-Point Consensus and a Myanmar-led peace process.
Bilateral cooperation and sustainable development
On the sidelines of the AMM, Thailand deepened bilateral ties with Norway in a meeting between Minister Maris and Norwegian State Secretary Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik. The two nations celebrated 120 years of diplomatic relations and explored future collaboration in renewable energy, food security, and sustainable investments, including the potential for Norway’s sovereign wealth fund to increase its stake in Thailand’s green economy transition.
Thailand also reaffirmed its role as ASEAN’s Coordinator on Sustainable Development Cooperation by promoting the Complementarities Initiative 2.0 — a framework aligning ASEAN’s Vision 2045 with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The initiative will be formally presented at the upcoming ASEAN-UN Summit in October, reflecting the region’s ambition to drive inclusive progress through multilateral cooperation.
As Malaysian Foreign Minister Hasan noted in his opening remarks, ASEAN’s strength lies in its unity, foresight, and collective resolve. The 58th AMM in Kuala Lumpur reinforced that vision, offering a clear-eyed, collective response to today’s geopolitical and environmental challenges.
Teerin Julsawad