LANGKAWI, Malaysia (AP) — Southeast Asian foreign ministers gathered Sunday for their first meeting this year under the regional bloc's new chair, Malaysia, seeking a breakthrough over Myanmar’s drawn-out civil war and territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

LANGKAWI, Jan 19 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan on Sunday reaffirmed that ASEAN will continue to drive its own path forward amid intensifying superpower competition in the region. With a highly geo-strategic position, cultural versatility, and economic weight, he said Southeast Asia holds massive potential.

The foreign minister highlights the importance of inclusivity and sustainability, hinting at Timor-Leste’s accession to the regional bloc.

LANGKAWI, Malaysia | Southeast Asian foreign ministers gathered ... Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said Myanmar — represented by a low-level Foreign Ministry official after its junta ...

Vietnam's Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and Malaysia's Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan clap after a group photo session during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers ...

Malaysia's Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan, Philippines's Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, Brunei Darussalam Foreign Minister Erywan Yusof, Cambodia's Secretary of State Kung Phoak ...

Hun Manet has refuted allegations that his government was involved in the assassination of Khmer-French politician Lim Kimya

Illegal online gambling has flourished in Southeast Asia, often targeting the Chinese mainland, where gambling is banned. ASEAN representatives reaffirmed their determination to crack down on related transnational crimes, including human trafficking, money laundering, and online scams.

Despite Asean’s call to prioritise peace over a sham election, Myanmar’s military rulers appear bent on clinging to power no matter the cost.

The bloc says that any poll must be “inclusive,” but it has limited power to deter the junta from its election plans.

At a Malaysia conference, ministers of ASEAN nations pledged to step up the fight against illegal online gambling and cyber-crime.

Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar—are planning to introduce a unified visa system that will significantly simplify travel for tourists.