Malaysia Strengthens Global Role Through Brics Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Says Mohamad Hasan
NEW DELHI: Malaysia’s participation in the recent Brics Foreign Ministers’ Meeting has further strengthened the country’s standing within the international grouping while opening wider opportunities for multilateral cooperation and economic engagement with developing nations.
Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said the meeting provided Malaysia with an important platform to reinforce its foreign policy principles, particularly in defending multilateralism amid rising geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty worldwide.
According to him, discussions throughout the meeting largely focused on the importance of preserving multilateral relations between countries as global conflicts and international instability continue to intensify.
He said Malaysia remains committed to ensuring that multilateral cooperation continues to serve as the foundation of international diplomacy and conflict management.
“This aligns closely with Malaysia’s foreign policy approach, which supports stronger multilateral engagement between nations,” he told reporters after attending a gathering with staff and families of the Malaysian High Commission in India.
Mohamad Hasan also stressed that Malaysia supports efforts to strengthen the role of the United Nations as the primary global institution responsible for addressing international disputes and coordinating responses to global challenges.
He said global institutions such as the UN must continue to be empowered to maintain international stability, especially during periods of heightened geopolitical uncertainty.
Apart from discussions on multilateralism, the meeting also touched on developments in West Asia, including tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz that continue to affect global trade flows and economic stability in many regions, including Asean.
Malaysia, he said, hopes the conflict can be resolved quickly to minimise disruptions to international trade and energy supply chains.
During the sidelines of the meeting, Mohamad Hasan also held bilateral discussions with foreign ministers and representatives from Iran, Russia, India, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Cuba and Thailand to strengthen economic cooperation and intra-Brics trade opportunities.
He said Malaysia had advocated for stronger trade integration among Brics economies to enhance economic resilience and expand commercial opportunities between member nations.
Among the issues discussed were India’s growing role as an important trade, tourism and pharmaceutical partner for Malaysia, as well as efforts to improve people-to-people connectivity between both countries.
Malaysia also expressed interest in positioning Egypt as a strategic gateway for expanding access into North African markets.
On concerns involving the Strait of Hormuz, Mohamad Hasan said Iran had assured Malaysia that Malaysian vessels would continue to receive safe passage through the strategic route.
However, he said severe congestion involving thousands of vessels following the temporary closure of the waterway had caused delays and longer transit periods.
The foreign minister concluded his working visit to India yesterday after participating in several official programmes linked to the Brics Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, including bilateral discussions, official dinners and a courtesy meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The meeting is viewed as a key preparatory platform ahead of the upcoming Brics Summit scheduled to take place in India this September.
-wilayah.com.my
