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Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized Friday the complementary potential between Türkiye and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), during a partnership meeting between the two parties.
Fidan said the meeting—held in Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur—was an important opportunity to evaluate cooperation and shared future aspirations between Türkiye and ASEAN.
He noted that the Asia-Pacific region was at a critical crossroads, citing ongoing geographic tensions, economic fluctuations, and environmental challenges shaping the future.
Fidan also highlighted shifting security perceptions due to rivalry among major powers, with countries in the region recalibrating national security doctrines, increasing defense spending, and prioritizing economic security.
“We must collectively own up to regional problems through cooperation,” Fidan said. He stressed that global dynamics were interconnected and that various crises require unified responses, as he pointed to Gaza as an example.
Fidan noted that existing global governance mechanisms were fragmented, reactive, and geographically constrained. “We need to respond collectively, build bridges, and collaboratively address regional issues,” he added.
Fidan said that Türkiye and ASEAN were both strategically important actors with significant potential to complement each other. Positioned at the heart of key logistics corridors, the two parties can play vital roles in regional connectivity and economic activity, Fidan explained.
ASEAN is a success story in regional integration, he said, while Türkiye is the world’s 17th largest economy and the fastest-growing member of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
“Our bilateral trade volume surpassed $15.7 billion last year, underscoring the considerable potential between us,” Fidan noted.
He stressed that ASEAN’s principle of “shared prosperity” resonates with Türkiye’s “Re-engaging Asia” initiative, but cooperation extends beyond a single dimension.
Both sides aim to deepen relations based on peace, inclusivity, and mutual benefit, he said, affirming Türkiye’s commitment to ASEAN’s strategic goals.
“Our primary objective is a dialogue partnership. Accordingly, we want to develop our engagement with ASEAN in line with shared strategic goals. Türkiye supports ASEAN’s 2045 vision to establish a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable community.”
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