Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu is paying a visit to Malaysia on 3-5 August 2015 as a special guest of current ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Chair Malaysia, to participate in the 48th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.

Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu first met with the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Thailand, Tanasak Patimapragorn within the context of his visit to Malaysia. In the meeting, situation of Uyghur Turks in Thailand, ways to foster bilateral and economic relations, increasing the level of cooperation in international organizations, particularly in ASEAN and giving impetus to the Joint Economic Committee were reviewed. Turkey’s prospect of becoming a dialogue partner to ASEAN was also on the agenda of the meeting.

Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu later met with his Malaysian counterpart Anifah Aman. Stating that Malaysia’s term presidency would provide important contribution to the ASEAN, Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu underlined Turkey’s wish to increase its bilateral relationship with Malaysia. In the meeting, fight against DEASH, latest developments in Syria, bilateral economic relations and increasing the Malaysian investment in Turkey were discussed. Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu also expressed his thanks to his counterpart for the support Malaysia extended to Rohingya Muslims.

On the second day of his visit to Malaysia, Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu met with his Norwegian counterpart, Borge Brende. Israel-Palestine relations, aid provided to Palestine, latest developments in Syria, Iraq and Yemen and fight against DEASH were discussed in the meeting. In Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu’s later meeting with Najib Tun Razak, Prime Minister of Malaysia, stepping up trade volume and defense cooperation between two countries and fighting against foreign terrorist fighters were on the agenda. Talking to reporters after the meeting, Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu said that Turkey has welcomed the invitation to ASEAN extended by Malaysia and that its dialogue partnership to the organisation is supported by many ASEAN states.

Speaking at the joint press conference with Mustapa Mohamed, Minister of International Trade and Industry of Malaysia, Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu announced the entry into force of the FTA between Turkey and Malaysia as of 1 August 2015, negotiations of which started in May 2010 and continued until it was signed in April last year. Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu said he hoped that the existing trade imbalance between two countries would be eliminated thanks to the FTA in effect henceforth. Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu also added the need to increase mutual investment of Turkey and Malaysia.

Speaking at the joint press conference, Minister of International Trade and Industry Mohamed underlined the importance of Turkey for both Malaysia and the countries in the region. He expressed Malaysia’s wish to increase bilateral relations with Turkey and said the FTA could contribute to this end.

Within the context of his contacts in Malaysia, Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu also met with Hishammuddin Hussein, Malaysian Defense Minister, Albert F. Del Rosario, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, and Sartaj Aziz, Pakistani Foreign Minister.

On the third day of his visit to Malaysia, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu met with John Kerry, US Secretary of State and Sergey Lavrov, Foreign Minister of Russian Federation.

In the talks Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu held with his counterparts regional and bilateral relations, latest developments in Syria and Iraq and counter-terrorism efforts were on the agenda.

Responding to reporters’ questions following his meeting with John Kerry, US Secretary of State, Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu said that some progress had been made in opening bases and an extensive fight against DEASH would soon commence. Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu also added that he had talks with Foreign Ministers of a number of countries to find a political solution in Syria and that he thought joint action taken by Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Turkey would provide solutions to the problems encountered in the Muslim World.

Following his meetings, Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu delivered a speech at the conference titled “Turkish Foreign Policy: Opportunities and Challenges” at the International Islamic University of Malaysia. In his speech, Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu described the instabilities in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Libya as the most crucial challenges faced by Turkish foreign policy. He added that Turkey fights against racism, Islamophobia and anti-immigrant sentiment in Europe and that Turkey hosts Syrian and Iraqi refugees regardless of their religion, sect or race.

Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu also talked about the increase in the number of our missions in Southeast Asia and plans for opening missions in Laos, Papua New Guinea and the Republic of Fiji. Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu added that Turkey would host Organization of Islamic Cooperation Summit in May 2016.

After the conference Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu met with Turkish students studying at the International Islamic University of Malaysia.