Belgium to rekindle ties with Southeast Asia through visits to Philippines and Malaysia
Federal Foreign minister Maxime Prévot is to visit the Philippines and Malaysia in the coming days, marking a significant diplomatic re-engagement with Southeast Asia. "Belgium has been absent from this region for too long," the minister said.
Prévot will visit both countries from 30 June to 3 July, the first Belgian foreign minister to travel to the Philippines since 1993. It has been more than thirty years since a Belgian Foreign minister last visited Manila, while the previous visit to Kuala Lumpur happened over a decade ago.
The minister will begin his trip in the Philippines, where he will meet his counterpart, Foreign Affairs secretary Maria Teresa Lazaro. Their talks will focus on maritime cooperation and expanding trade between the two sides, within the framework of the EU's future free trade agreement with the Philippines.
On 2 and 3 July, Prévot will be in Malaysia, where his schedule includes meetings with deputy prime minister Fadillah Yusof and the Sultan of Perak, Nazrin Shah, among others. Malaysia holds large reserves of rare-earth metals and plays an essential role in the global microchip supply chain.
Economic opportunities
Prévot sees clear opportunities for Belgian businesses in the region as Belgium's open economy is being buffeted by geopolitical uncertainty, including the war in Iran and its impact on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
"A crisis thousands of kilometres away can slow down our production or disrupt our trade within a matter of weeks. We must anticipate this. More suppliers, new markets, reliable partners and secure trade routes make our economy stronger," Prévot said.
The ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries are one of the key engines of the global economy, with growth of around 5 per cent expected again this year. The bloc encompasses 700 million people and its middle class is expanding rapidly.
Within Southeast Asia, the Philippines and Malaysia are growing in importance, Prévot said. The minister also views ASEAN countries as "natural partners", arguing that, like the EU, they are committed to multilateralism and peaceful conflict resolution.
© BELGA PHOTO BENOIT DOPPAGNE
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