ASEAN: A Model For Shared Decision-Making And Sustainable Influence, Says Malaysian FM
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 9 (Bernama) -- ASEAN should not be seen merely as a "buffer zone" between major global powers, but as a model of shared decision-making and sustainable influence, said Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
During his keynote address at the 15th Asian Conference of the Valdai Discussion Club on Monday in Kuala Lumpur, he highlighted ASEAN’s unique approach to regional cooperation and diplomacy and emphasised that the organisation’s strength lies in its distinctive model of engagement.
"ASEAN’s power lies in the way it represents an entirely different model of engagement. It is one that has been rarely demonstrated in world politics — shared decision-making between states with diverse governance systems," he said.
Mohamad stated that despite their differences, ASEAN countries have managed to find common ground in ways that allow them to maintain sovereignty while strengthening economic ties across borders.
By refusing to take sides in great power competition, ASEAN has been able to maintain access to global markets, secure supply chains, and engage in high-level trade and investment partnerships with both Eastern and Western powers.
“This is geo-economic resilience at its finest: leveraging cooperation to generate collective economic security, while allowing individual nations to remain adaptable in the face of shifting global conditions,” he said.
Mohamad explained that the "ASEAN way" is not just about balancing power but about creating structures of influence that are inclusive, adaptive, and sustainable.
He noted that ASEAN presides over one of the few regions globally where a genuinely functioning multilateral framework goes beyond mere rhetoric.
He said ASEAN's success in embracing diverse models of political economy—from market-driven approaches to more state-centred ones—demonstrates how countries with disparate political systems can collaborate and prosper.
“This stands in stark contrast to the binary narratives of ‘democracy versus autocracy’, or ‘open markets versus protectionism’, that dominate much of global discourse today.
"In a world that is rapidly fragmenting economically, politically, and culturally, ASEAN offers a model of unity in diversity that is not just theoretical but also highly practical," he said.
Mohamad stressed that ASEAN’s potential does not lie in merely maintaining neutrality in the face of great power competition.
Instead, he suggested that ASEAN could inspire a new multipolar order, where influence is measured not by military might or economic weight alone but by the ability to facilitate dialogue, broker cooperation, and build the trust necessary for global peace and prosperity.
Mohamad expressed hope to maintain regional stability and promote an open and inclusive outlook in international affairs through continued communication with all Dialogue Partners, including Russia.
He also highlighted the importance of renewed collaboration between ASEAN and all relevant parties, especially in light of the worrying trend of isolationism in the West.
"Through these efforts, we aim to uphold the region’s stability and foster a spirit of inclusiveness in international relations," he added.
The conference, titled "Malaysia, Russia, and ASEAN: Navigating Emerging Multipolarity", was held from Dec 9 to 10, bringing together over 100 experts from Russia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Pakistan.
Organised in partnership with the Bait Al Amanah Foundation (Malaysia), the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (Japan), and the Institute for Strategic Analysis and Policy Research (INSAP, Malaysia), the conference provided a platform for an open and in-depth discussion on significant global and regional issues.
-- BERNAMA
