ISTANBUL, April 23 — Turkiye has expressed interest in becoming a dialogue partner at the 2025 Asean Summits in Kuala Lumpur in May and September, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz conveyed this interest during a courtesy call in Ankara on Tuesday, part of his two-day official working visit to the republic.
He said that said Turkiye hopes Malaysia, as Asean chair this year, could support the aspiration.
“To become a dialogue partner, Turkiye must secure consensus from all Asean member states. I will personally convey the request to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for discussion at the Asean leadership level. If there is agreement, Turkiye will certainly be invited,” Fadillah said.
He added that Turkiye could be considered for participation in the business segment of the Asean Energy Ministers’ Meeting in September, even if consensus on formal partnership has yet to be reached.
“We may invite them to present or participate on a business basis, not as a Dialogue Partner but as an entity involved in the forum. That is something we can likely accommodate,” he told Bernama in Ankara on Tuesday night.
On the meeting with Yılmaz, Fadillah said Turkiye had also expressed interest in Malaysia’s preparations in response to the United States' tariffs and in addressing broader economic challenges.
Malaysia is keen to learn from Turkiye’s expertise in energy, technology, and water management.
“In the energy context, we are exploring closer cooperation, particularly learning from Turkiye’s approach to increasing energy trade and exchange within Europe,” he said.
Turkiye is among the leading producers of renewable energy in Europe and globally, with more than 50 per cent of its electricity generated from clean sources including solar, hydroelectric and geothermal.
Fadillah said that Yilmaz also expressed a desire to reduce the trade deficit between the two countries and deepen government-to-government, business-to-business, and people-to-people ties, including through cultural and student exchange programmes.
“They are also looking to elevate the existing high-level committee to include ministerial representation. Our embassy is currently working with their Turkish counterparts to finalise the details,” he said.
— Bernama
