58th AMM: Mohamad Meets Philippine Foreign Secretary

KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 (Bernama) -- Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan on Tuesday held a bilateral meeting with Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro on the sidelines of the ongoing 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) and related meetings.

The Malaysian Foreign Ministry said the meeting reviewed the progress of bilateral cooperation since the eighth Malaysia-Philippines Joint Commission Meeting held here in October last year.

“Both sides also reaffirmed their commitment to fostering collaboration in various fields for mutual benefit of both nations,” it said in a Facebook page.

Lazaro was appointed as the new Secretary of Foreign Affairs, effective July 1, succeeding Enrique Manalo, who has been appointed as the Philippines' Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN).

The 58th AMM and related meetings, held under Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship for 2025 with the theme ‘Inclusivity and Sustainability’, will feature 24 ministerial-level meetings involving ASEAN Dialogue Partners and Sectoral Dialogue Partners.

The four-day high-level events are expected to bring together around 1,500 delegates, including foreign ministers from ASEAN member states, Timor-Leste, ASEAN Dialogue Partners, ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) participants, Sectoral Dialogue Partners and senior ASEAN Secretariat officials.

Mohamad also held a bilateral meeting with Brunei’s Second Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dato Seri Setia Erywan Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Mohd Yusof, at the same venue in the evening.

He continued his engagements by hosting a dinner with Algeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad, Ahmed Attaf.

Earlier today, Mohamad also held a bilateral meeting with ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn.

According to a statement from the ASEAN Secretariat, the meeting focused on advancing ASEAN Community-building efforts, in line with the Chair’s key priorities and deliverables.

-- BERNAMA