STATEMENT: HIGH-LEVEL MEETING ON REGIONAL ZONES OF PEACE

STATEMENT BY

MR. SOFIAN AKMAL ABD KARIM

DEPUTY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE / CHARGÉ D'AFFAIRES a.i.

PERMANENT MISSION OF MALAYSIA

TO THE UNITED NATIONS

HIGH-LEVEL MEETING ON REGIONAL ZONES OF PEACE

NEW YORK, 7 JULY 2025

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Thank you, President,

1. Malaysia welcomes the convening of this high-level meeting of the General Assembly, pursuant to resolution 79/5. This is a timely initiative, as the multilateral system faces renewed strains, conflict persists in different regions of the world, and concerted efforts toward peace remain imperative. It also highlights the valued efforts of the friendly nations of the Central Asian region towards international peace and security.

2. In our own region, Malaysia will continue to play its part in maintaining and promoting peace, security and stability. We recall that the Declaration on the Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality (ZOPFAN) was signed in 1971 by five Southeast Asian countries, with the shared goal of enabling the region to chart an independent course. In the decades since, we have witnessed the steady expansion of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to encompass ten Member States, with Timor-Leste, presently an ASEAN Observer, set to be admitted as the 11^th ASEAN Member State this October.

3. Malaysia is privileged to hold the Chairmanship of ASEAN for the year 2025. ASEAN has worked closely with the UN on various issues of common concern. We appreciate the strong support of Member States for the biennial General Assembly resolution on UN-ASEAN cooperation, adopted earlier this year.  

4. Further, my delegation recognises the value of core ASEAN legal instruments such as the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), a code of conduct governing inter-State relations in the region. We welcome the continued interest of countries from outside Southeast Asia to accede to the TAC, consistent with its purposes and principles, especially as we approach the 50^th anniversary of the Treaty in 2026. Further, we underline the critical role of the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ), signed three decades ago, in ensuring that our region remains free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction, in line with the ASEAN Charter.

President,

5. At the 46^th ASEAN Summit held in Kuala Lumpur in May this year, the ASEAN leaders adopted the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and its Strategic Plans. In this regard, my delegation will work closely with fellow ASEAN Member States and our external partners to achieve a resilient, innovative, dynamic and people-centred regional community. We believe this fully reflects the spirit of our present meeting, aimed at further promoting regional zones of peace and friendly relations among nations. May the establishment and maintenance of zones of peace support our collective efforts to strengthen multilateral cooperation, and to realise the purposes and principles of the UN, and its Charter, in full measure. 

Thank you.