By Roy Lie Atjam
The Embassy of Malaysia in the Netherlands shone brightly by organizing a splendid celebration for the 58th Anniversary of ASEAN, on 8 August 2025.
As the ASEAN Chair for 2025 and with great anticipation for Visit Malaysia 2026, Malaysia proudly hosted this year’s ASEAN Day Celebration.
The program featured a cordial welcome by H.E. Dato’ Roseli Abdul, Ambassador of Malaysia, followed by a captivating cultural performances by ASEAN member states. MC. Muna Tasau expertly managed the event, her professionalism infusing a magical, whimsical-fanciful touch into the program.
The Ambassador’s speech follows “At the outset, let me extend a welcome to each of you to the Embassy of Malaysia in The Hague as we commemorate ASEAN Day 2025 and the 58th anniversary of our Association. It is my singular honour to host this celebration, in my capacity as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in The Hague, and in Malaysia’s role as ASEAN Chair for 2025.
Your presence, whether based here in The Hague or travelling from Brussels and beyond, demonstrates our collective commitment to ASEAN’s shared vision and enduring unity.
On this very date 58 years ago, the Foreign Ministers of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand gathered in Bangkok to sign the Bangkok Declaration, giving birth to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
What began as a five-Member initiative has, over the decades, expanded into a vibrant regional organisation of ten nations: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam; soon to include Timor-Leste as the 11th Member.
Founded amid regional tension and economic hardship, ASEAN has charted a remarkable journey marked by resilience and progress. Today, Southeast Asia is on track to become the world’s fourth-largest economy by 2030 driven by its 700 million-strong population and rapid digital adoption.
While rooted in geography, ASEAN’s success also stems from partnerships beyond Southeast Asean. We now enjoy 11 Dialogue Partnerships including six Comprehensive Strategic Partnerships; eight Sectoral Dialogue Partnerships; and six Development Partnerships, among them the Netherlands. These platforms, reinforced by ASEAN-led mechanisms, enable us to exchange best practices across the Political-Security, Economic and Socio-Cultural pillars.
Closer to home, ASEAN has worked collectively to advance Timor-Leste’s accession. At the 46th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur in May 2025, our Leaders agreed that Timor-Leste will be formally admitted as the 11th Member State at the upcoming 47th Summit in October 2025.
As Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim reminded us at the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on 9 July 2025, ASEAN derives its strength from its willingness to keep engaging and habits of cooperation. This long-standing approach has allowed the Association to chart its own course deliberately, coherently, and with purpose – as guided by the principle of ASEAN Centrality.
This is particularly pertinent as we navigate the growing complexities, both regionally and globally – from the ongoing hostilities in Myanmar to the escalating trade war worldwide. Notwithstanding these challenges, I am confident that the past six decades of consensus-building and regionalism have equipped ASEAN with a sound foundation to navigate through the numerous geopolitical intricacies.
This was aptly demonstrated also during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting last July, whereby the bloc reiterated its principled stance and outlined tangible actions in areas that many have found contentious. I definitely do not intend to reiterate all the outcomes, but allow me to highlight, among many, the following:
On Myanmar, Malaysia as the Chair has proposed a working visit to the country at the Foreign Minister-level, with ASEAN also exploring the proposal to extend the mandate of the Special Envoy on Myanmar;
On South China Sea, ASEAN looked forward to the early conclusion of the Code of Conduct (COC) before its deadline in 2026 following the positive progress in the current negotiations; and
On Gaza, ASEAN not only condemned Israel’s open genocide but also reminded its external partners, especially those sympathising with Israel, that international law has to be upheld in a fair and just manner.
In essence, these actions go to show that ASEAN has collectively taken, and will continue to take, numerous steps to address matters of shared concerns, while still maintaining the embedded principles of ASEAN Centrality and unity. In that spirit, let us redouble our efforts to uphold peace and stability in our region and to build a resilient, innovative and people-centred ASEAN Community.
Finally, I wish to thank our colleagues, staff and volunteers whose dedication made today possible. Happy ASEAN Day and thank you”.
A highlight of the 2025 ASEAN celebration was the impending arrival of Timor-Leste as the 11th member state of the organization.
The presence of Mr. João Paulo da Costa Rangel, the Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste in the United Kingdom, added a distinguished touch to the event.
The vibrant morning festivities culminated in a delightful lunch, featuring an enticing selection of culinary treasures from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, creating a feast that truly celebrated the rich tapestry of Southeast Asian culture.
Photography is a courtesy of the Embassy of Malaysia.
