This article first appeared in Forum, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on May 15, 2023 - May 21, 2023

On May 13, high-level representatives of more than 60 countries, including Malaysia, would meet in Stockholm for the 2nd EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum. With the aim of strengthening the partnership between the European Union and the Indo-Pacific region, the meeting will be co-chaired by the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell. Sweden is hosting the ministerial meeting because it currently holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU.

The EU and the Indo-Pacific are highly interconnected. The EU is already the top investor, the leading development cooperation partner and one of the biggest trading partners in the Indo-Pacific region. Together, the Indo-Pacific and Europe hold over 70% of the global trade in goods and services, as well as over 60% of foreign direct investment flows.

Europe and the Indo-Pacific region have common and parallel challenges when it comes to sustainable economic development, climate change, supply chain resilience and security. In order to overcome these challenges, we must strengthen our cooperation by building strong and lasting partnerships. Underscoring our openness for engagement and cooperation, the EU adopted its Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific in 2021.

The EU and Malaysia have a long-standing relationship and a strong foundation for a strengthened partnership. Many EU member states have had embassies present here since Malaysia’s independence, and this year sees the 20th anniversary of the EU Delegation to Malaysia. At the end of 2022, the EU and Malaysia signed a partnership and cooperation agreement to enhance the political dialogue on issues of global concern, and to give more scope for mutually beneficial cooperation in a wide number of policy areas. We share our commitment to a rules-based international order, democratic values and principles, rule of law and respect for international law. The EU remains open to deepen our trade relations and we hope to resume the free trade agreement negotiations in the near future.

Our relations today are defined by an ever-increasing exchange of goods, services and investments that provide many jobs to our economies. Sweden, which has a small population but many large multinational firms, has about 90 companies established in Malaysia. The EU as a collective represents the second-largest source of foreign direct investment in Malaysia. Many European firms produce goods and services here in Malaysia, which are later exported throughout the region and the world, contributing to Malaysia’s standing as a leading trading nation.

Economic issues, such as the importance of maintaining well-functioning global value chains, strengthening cooperation to protect international trade rules and enhancing digital connectivity and cybersecurity, will be high on the agenda of the Ministerial Forum.

Another important topic for the forum is the challenge all countries face — climate change. Malaysia has a unique place in the world, as few countries can come close to the biodiversity and the natural assets that Malaysia possesses. A common challenge requires common solutions, and we need to work as partners to fight, mitigate and adapt to climate change and to counter biodiversity loss, pollution and other forms of environmental degradation in both our regions.

The so-called green transition, the ongoing shift to more environmentally sustainable practices, represents an important opportunity to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050. We count on Malaysia, and the whole Indo-Pacific region in achieving our common goals.

Borrell, in a recent speech, encapsulated the significance of the Indo-Pacific region for the EU: “In many ways, the Indo-Pacific region is where the future of our planet and of history will be decided. How the region develops is of direct interest to us. We have a stake in each other’s security and a shared interest in upholding the rules-based international order. Today, both partners are facing similar challenges, not just in security, but also in trade and aid. In a globalised world, there is no ‘faraway’ and conflicts cannot be separated.”

Going forward, successful cooperation between the EU and the Indo-Pacific region is of great geopolitical and economic importance. Growing tensions are putting pressure on trade, technology, and foreign and security policy, underscoring the need for our respective regions to deepen partnerships and political dialogues. We wish to build trusted, consistent and reliable partnerships. It is our hope and belief that the 2nd EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum will be an important stepping stone towards this objective.

Michalis Rokas is the EU ambassador to Malaysia. Joachim Bergström is the ambassador of Sweden to Malaysia.

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