Palestine: Palestine has called on member countries of the Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development (CEAPAD) to take a firmer and united stance on the political dimensions of the crisis, beyond offering development aid and technical assistance.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Palestine's Planning and International Cooperation Minister Dr. Estephan Salameh emphasized that while CEAPAD has contributed significantly to Palestine's development efforts, there is a pressing need for stronger political solidarity amid escalating atrocities. Dr. Salameh expressed the desire for CEAPAD to evolve beyond a development platform, advocating for justice and freedom for the Palestinian people, and seeking support to end the occupation and establish an independent Palestinian state.
Dr. Salameh highlighted the critical timing of this year's CEAPAD meeting, noting that it coincides with a period of severe hardship for the Palestinian people. He described the current circumstances as dire, with Palestinians facing genocide and enduring one of the most brutal occupations.
The fourth edition of CEAPAD, known as CEAPAD IV, is set to focus on capacity-building, the reconstruction of critical infrastructure in Palestine, and the effective delivery of comprehensive humanitarian aid. The meeting is co-chaired by Dr. Salameh, Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya. The CEAPAD IV meeting is taking place alongside the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) and related meetings under Malaysia's ASEAN Chairmanship.
Current CEAPAD members include Japan, Palestine, Malaysia, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam. Palestinian Ambassador to Malaysia Walid Abu Ali remarked that CEAPAD has evolved into a meaningful platform for solidarity and political alignment among East and Southeast Asian nations, supporting Palestinian state-building efforts beyond aid and capacity development by affirming Palestinian rights to dignity, self-determination, and sovereignty.
Malaysia's Foreign Ministry stated that the meeting serves as a crucial platform to recalibrate national efforts and consolidate regional assistance in response to the Palestinians' urgent needs. These needs encompass immediate humanitarian response, early recovery and reconstruction, economic development, capacity building, and institutional reform and governance.
The conference is expected to conclude with the adoption of the Kuala Lumpur Action Plan 2025, which outlines CEAPAD's priorities for Palestine. Malaysia has reiterated its commitment to support efforts for immediate humanitarian aid, reconstruction of Gaza, and capacity building for Palestine, including through the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP).