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KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has reiterated that it is ready to join other ASEAN member states in signing the ASEAN-EU (Association of Southeast Asian Nations – European Union) Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement (CATA), said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein. (pix)
However, reiterating Malaysia’s position on the matter in its intervention at the 23rd ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting, it said the decision was made on the understanding that it would be allowed to ratify it at a later stage when it is ready to implement the obligations. under the agreement.
“We look forward to the conclusion of negotiations with the EU on this important interregional air transport agreement in the near future,” he said at Tuesday’s meeting.
The meeting, held practically due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, was chaired by Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, and also attended by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission. European, Josep Borrell Fontelles.
The meeting was attended in full by the 10 Ministers of Foreign Affairs of ASEAN, together with the 27 Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the EU.
The ASEAN-EU Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement (CATA) will be the first block-by-block agreement aimed at improving air connectivity between ASEAN and the EU and beyond when it enters into force.
Hishammuddin said that in view of the Covid-19 pandemic that has significantly damaged the global economy, ASEAN and the EU must also redouble efforts and make steady and significant progress in developing the Free Trade Agreement parameter framework. ASEAN-EU.
He also called on ASEAN and the EU to work together to tackle the problems of extremism in all its forms by understanding the root causes that cause such problems and exploring sustainable and viable solutions that can effectively counter the spread and influence of extreme ideologies. .
He said Malaysia is concerned about the unstable politics on the regional and international stage and the flourishing of hatred and division that has made the world more volatile than before, emphasizing that extremism and hate speech in all its forms and Demonstrations should not be tolerated or tolerated as it would lead to the disintegration of societies.
Despite our national efforts, concerned and focused on recovering from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, I am sure that a large majority of our people, both from ASEAN and the EU, cannot afford and should not lose In view of our main priority, which is for peace to prevail in the world.
“We must do our part to promote peace, stability and prosperity, not allowing extremism and hate speech to succeed and prosper, disharmonizing our societies,” he added. -Called
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