Saifuddin, Pompeo co-chair Asean-US Ministerial Meeting

SINGAPORE: Foreign Affairs Mini ster Datuk Sai fuddin Abdullah and Mike Pompeo, the US Secretary of State co- chaired the Asean- US Ministeri a l Meeting yesterday.

Mal aysi a i s the c ount ry coordinator for the Asean- US Dialogue Relations for the term 2015- 2018.

Saifuddin is currently leading the Malaysian delegation to the 51st Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meet ing/ Post Mini s terial Conferenc e s and Rel at ed Meetings unti l Saturday in Singapore.

This is his first participation at an Asean meeting since assuming the portfolio of foreign minister on July 2.

On Friday, Sai fuddin and other Asean foreign ministers at t ended the Mini s t er ia l Meetings with Asean Dialogue Partners namely Australia, Canada, the European Union, India, and South Korea.

Following this 51st gathering, Malaysia will be the country coordinator o f the AseanAustralia Dialogue Relations for the term 2018- 2021.

On Thursday, Saifuddin and other Asean foreign ministers had paid a courtesy cal l on Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong before adjourning for the official opening of the 51st AMM and Related Meetings.

The mini sters witnessed the signing ceremony of the Instrument of Accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation ( TAC) in Southeast Asia by Argentina and Iran.

They a lso at tended the Asean– Japan Min i ster i a l Meeting followed by meetings with Russia, China and New Zealand.

Singapore holds the Asean chai rmanship for 2 018. — Bernama