Kuala lumpur: Finland has reaffirmed its commitment to deepen its long-standing partnership with Malaysia and strengthen engagement with ASEAN following its accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) here today. Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said Finland and Malaysia have built close ties over many years through extensive cooperation in various sectors, particularly trade and investment.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Valtonen expressed that both nations enjoy strong economic and diplomatic relations and are now seeking to elevate their cooperation to new heights. She looks forward to Malaysia signing a free trade agreement with the European Union in the near future, which she believes will bring the regions even closer. Valtonen described Finland's accession to the TAC as a significant step in strengthening relations with ASEAN, paving the way for enhanced cooperation and shared efforts toward peace and stability.
Valtonen believes that this is the best time for increased cooperation between Finland and ASEAN, emphasizing Finland's readiness to share its expertise as a technologically advanced nation and expand trade and investments across the region. Finland's accession to the TAC aligns the country with other European nations that have already done so, reflecting a shared commitment to peace, multilateralism, and international law.
She added that Finland places strong emphasis on human capital development and lifelong learning. Valtonen mentioned the importance of retraining in the age of artificial intelligence and indicated that Finland has valuable solutions to offer in this regard. Finland's accession to the TAC makes it the third country to join the ASEAN treaty during Malaysia's ASEAN Chairmanship 2025, bringing the total number of states that signed the ASEAN treaty to 58, after Algeria and Uruguay in July.
Finland, represented by Valtonen, formalised the country's commitment on the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan, alongside the foreign ministers of ASEAN member states and Timor-Leste and ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn.