On 9 July 2025, the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, under the theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability”. The meeting brought together foreign ministers from the 10 ASEAN member countries to discuss regional cooperation efforts and progress towards achieving key deliverables for 2025.
The meeting was chaired by His Excellency Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Mohamad Bin Haji Hasan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia. Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia, PRAK Sokhonn, who is also the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, attended the meeting and stressed the importance of leveraging ASEAN-led mechanisms for trust-building and constructive engagement with external partners.
According to the meeting’s outcomes, the ASEAN Geoeconomic Task Force (AGTF) highlighted the urgent need for ASEAN to respond strategically to the complex global geoeconomic landscape. The ministers joined the call to strengthen regional resilience through enhancing intra-ASEAN trade, cross-pillar coordination in policymaking, private sector engagement, and implementation of the ASEAN Free Partnership.
The meeting also welcomed the growing interest in the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), which reaffirms the treaty’s role in promoting regional peace, stability, and cooperation. With the adoption of the Guidelines to Facilitate Timor-Leste’s Accession to ASEAN Legal Instruments, the meeting reaffirmed the commitment to support Timor-Leste’s full membership in ASEAN.
Deputy Prime Minister PRAK Sokhonn emphasized the importance of boosting intra-ASEAN trade and deepening regional integration, particularly by harnessing opportunities in emerging sectors such as digital and green economies. He also reiterated Cambodia’s commitment to facilitate Timor-Leste’s full membership in ASEAN through capacity building and technical support.
On the sidelines of the meeting, a signing ceremony took place for the Instrument of Accession to the TAC by the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria and the Oriental Republic of Uruguay. The ceremony was attended by Deputy Prime Minister PRAK Sokhonn and other ASEAN foreign ministers.
Additionally, Deputy Prime Minister PRAK Sokhonn had bilateral meetings with His Excellency Thongsavanh PHOMVIHANE, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, and His Excellency BUI Thanh Son, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The discussions focused on ways to further deepen relations and cooperation among the three countries.
Overall, the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting highlighted the importance of regional cooperation and the need for ASEAN member states to work together in response to global geoeconomic shifts. Cambodia’s commitment to strengthening regional resilience and facilitating Timor-Leste’s full membership in ASEAN underscores its role as a key player in regional affairs.
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