Kuala lumpur: The issue of trade and tariffs was not discussed during the meetings held ahead of the 47th ASEAN Summit, says Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. He mentioned that ASEAN will not issue a joint statement concerning the ongoing trade conflict with the United States.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohamad Hasan stated that the meetings did not cover trade or tariff issues, emphasizing that it would be more beneficial for each country to issue their own statements and handle matters directly with the US. He noted that US President Donald Trump seems to prefer bilateral dealings over multilateral discussions.

Regarding ASEAN's relations with the European Union (EU), Mohamad Hasan highlighted that both parties are in the final stages of negotiating the ASEAN-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA). He expressed optimism about the progress, stating that the talks have developed positively and the agreement might be concluded soon.

He further mentioned that European Council President Antonio Costa is expected to attend the upcoming ASEAN Summit and Related Summits. Malaysia, holding the ASEAN chairmanship this year under the theme 'Inclusivity and Sustainability', will host the 47th ASEAN Summit from October 26 to 28.

The summit is anticipated to be the largest ASEAN gathering since the bloc's inception in 1967, with several global leaders in attendance, including US President Donald Trump, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Brazilian President Luiz In¡cio Lula da Silva, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. This marks Malaysia's fifth ASEAN chairmanship, following previous terms in 1977, 1997, 2005, and 2015.