The ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat and Special Meeting of the ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) were held on 15-17 January 2011 in Lombok, Indonesia. Foreign Minister of Indonesia, Dr. Marty Natalegawa, chaired both Meetings.
Malaysia’s Foreign Minister, the Honourable Dato’ Sri Anifah Aman led the Malaysian delegation. He was accompanied by the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Datuk Mohd. Radzi Abdul Rahman, Permanent Representative of Malaysia to ASEAN, Dato’ Hsu King Bee, Director-General of ASEAN-Malaysia National Secretariat, Ambassador Ahmad Shahizan Abd Samad and several other officers from Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Permanent Mission of Malaysia to ASEAN.
During the AMM Retreat, the Foreign Ministers had an interactive and productive exchange views on various issues, including regional and international issues; ASEAN Summits focusing on ASEAN community building and review of modalities; East Asia Summit; and ASEAN Community in a global community of nations. Arising from the discussions at the Retreat, Malaysia has been tasked to work closely with the ASEAN Secretariat to come up with a paper on proposed ASEAN Bid to host the 2030 World Cup for consideration of the 18th ASEAN Summit in May 2011.
At the Special ACC Meeting, the Foreign Ministers adopted the Terms of Reference of the ASEAN Connectivity Coordinating Committee. Malaysia’s Foreign Minister announced the nomination of the Permanent Representative of Malaysia to ASEAN as its representative to the ASEAN Connectivity Coordinating Committee.
Aside from participating in Meetings, the Foreign Ministers also undertook three field activities, namely planting of corals, releasing baby turtles into the sea and planting Trembesi tree. The Foreign Ministers were also hosted to dinner by Foreign Minister of Indonesia and the Governor of West Nusa Tenggara Province and entertained with a performance of the local culture.