• Today: July 24, 2026

Prince Mateen calls for stronger regional cooperation on food, energy security

His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen, Minister of Foreign Affairs, has called for stronger regional cooperation to enhance food and energy security, while reaffirming the importance of upholding international law and maintaining peace and stability in the region.

His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen, Minister of Foreign Affairs listens during the 16th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers Meeting in Pasay, Metro Manila on July 23, 2026. PHOTO: AFP

His Royal Highness made the remarks during his sabda while attending the 27th ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the 16th East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila, the Philippines, on Thursday.

At the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, His Royal Highness underscored the need for the EAS to strengthen regional food security by supporting ASEAN sectoral bodies in promoting sustainable food production, improving supply chain coordination and enhancing regional preparedness to ensure reliable access to food at all times.

His Royal Highness also stressed that regional peace, stability and predictability depend on upholding international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, and advancing confidence-building measures to reduce tensions.

Earlier, during the ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, His Royal Highness highlighted the grouping’s significant role in supporting regional financial stability and strengthening responses to public health emergencies.

(L-R) Laos Foreign Minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane, Malaysia Foreign Ministry Secretary-General Amran Mohamed Zin, Myanmar Permanent Secretary Hau Khan Sum, Thailand Minister for Foreign Affairs Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Vietnam Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung, South Korea Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, Japan Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro, China Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Hua Chunying, Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Brunei’s Foreign Minister His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen, Cambodia Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, Indonesia Foreign Minister Sugiono, East Timor Foreign Minister Bendito dos Santos Freitas and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn pose for a group photo during the 27th ASEAN Plus Three Foreign MInisters Meeting in Pasay, Metro Manila on July 23, 2026. PHOTO: POOL/AFP

Building on the success of the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR), His Royal Highness proposed establishing a regional mechanism to improve preparedness for energy supply disruptions, transportation challenges and wider supply chain disruptions through strategic reserves, information sharing and coordinated regional responses.

Speaking at the ASEAN Regional Forum, His Royal Highness emphasised that the increasingly complex global security environment requires closer regional cooperation, noting that no country can address today’s security challenges alone.

He reaffirmed the forum’s role in promoting dialogue, consultation and confidence-building through practical cooperation, and welcomed the adoption of the Manila Plan of Action (2026–2036), which will guide the forum’s work over the next decade.

On the sidelines of the meetings, His Royal Highness held a bilateral meeting with India’s Minister of External Affairs, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

During the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the Brunei Darussalam–India Enhanced Partnership and exchanged views on regional and international developments.

The series of ministerial meetings forms part of the ASEAN-led mechanisms aimed at strengthening regional cooperation, addressing common challenges and promoting peace, stability and sustainable development across the Asia-Pacific region.

 

SOURCE/AUTHOR : BORNEO BULLETIN/Hakim Hayat

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