MALAYSIA CONVENES 17TH ARF EEPs TO ADVANCE PREVENTIVE DIPLOMACY

MALAYSIA CONVENES 17TH ARF EEPs TO ADVANCE PREVENTIVE

DIPLOMACY

Malaysia will be hosting the 17th Meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum Experts and Eminent Persons (ARF EEPs) from 7 to 8 April 2025 in Kuala Lumpur. Datuk Prof. Dr. Mohd Faiz Abdullah, the EEP of Malaysia, will be co-chairing the Meeting alongside Dr. Choi Yoon Jung, EEP of the Republic of Korea.

The meeting serves as an important platform under the ARF framework for policy experts and thought leaders to share key findings and generate practical recommendations to enhance regional peace and security. Additionally, the meeting will give considerable attention to the regional repercussions of the latest US tariffs, echoing YAB Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim's pursuit of a coordinated and considered response, which is crucial for advancing regional stability. The Ministry views this engagement as a strategic opportunity to harness expert perspectives in support of ASEAN's growing preventive diplomacy agenda.

This annual meeting brings together thought leaders and senior policy experts from across ARF Participating Countries to generate insights and forward-looking recommendations on regional security cooperation and preventive diplomacy.

As Chair of ASEAN in 2025, Malaysia is using this meeting to gather actionable insights to inform policy thinking and guide regional cooperation. Discussions will centre on reviewing the ARF Work Plan on Preventive Diplomacy, assessing regional security dynamics, and exploring practical next steps through a dedicated session on "Beyond 30: Revitalising the ARF." This aligns with Malaysia's broader ASEAN 2025 vision of building a resilient and inclusive community for all. The Ministry will draw from the meeting's outcomes to help shape Malaysia's priorities within the ASEAN political-security pillar and to contribute meaningfully to wider ARF deliberations moving forward.

Malaysia reaffirms its commitment to multilateralism, consensus-building, and constructive dialogue. In the face of growing uncertainty, Malaysia believes that dialogue, trust-building, and preventive diplomacy must remain at the heart of ASEAN's collective response to safeguard peace, promote mutual understanding, and advance shared prosperity.

PUTRAJAYA

7 April 2025