On 18 December 2024, H.E. Ms. Lada Phumas, Ambassador of Thailand to Malaysia, was invited to the Maritime Institute of Malaysia (MIMA) South China Sea (SCS) Conference 2024: “Risk Reduction, Promoting Rule of Law and Enhancing Connectivity for Maritime Trade”, organized by MIMA at Pavillion Hotel Kuala Lumpur. The conference was supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Transport of Malaysia, the Australian High Commission, the Delegation of the European Union, and the Embassy of Japan in Malaysia. The conference addresses the multi – faceted challenges of the South China Sea through a comprehensive approach.

 

In his welcoming remarks, Chairman of the Maritime Institute of Malaysia, Dato’ Mohamed Suffian Awang, stated that the South China Sea Conference has been MIMA flagship event serving as a crucial platform of MIMA’s commitments to foster engaging discourse and collaboration on important maritime issues amidst the volatile geopolitic and geoeconomic landscape.

 

In his opening speech, Director General of the National Security Council of Malaysia, YM Raja Dato’ Nushirwan Zainal Abidin, stated that Malaysia is committed and ready to assume an important role of ASEAN Chairmanship 2025, therefore, the MIMA South China Sea (SCS) conference 2024 is organized to drive ASEAN to be more constructive and take a proactive approach on the SCS, while ASEAN centrality is the foundation to regional peace and stability. Malaysia is committed to advance the negotiation on the Code of Conduct (COC), and wishes the SCS the sea of peace, stability and trust.

 

This track II event was well attended by a large number of participants from Malaysian and international academia, foreign Ambassadors/High Commissioners in Malaysia, as well as officials from relevant Malaysian authorities, etc.