GEORGE TOWN, Jan 14 — France is looking forward to further progress and new initiatives under Malaysia's chairmanship of Asean this year, as Malaysia plays a key role as a driving force within the Southeast Asian bloc.
France's Ambassador to Malaysia Axel Cruau said that they are eager to strengthen dialogue with Malaysia as the chair to explore ways in which both France and the European Union can collaborate with Asean on various priorities, including development and energy.
“Broadly speaking, we anticipate a very active Asean chairmanship. We recognise that Malaysia has several priorities, with inclusivity and sustainability being the two core mottos.
“We are here to work even more closely with Malaysia and with the entire of Asean. France is a partner of Asean, and we want to do more with Asean as a whole and that is definitely one of our priorities,” he said during a press conference in the French Navy's Air Defence Destroyer, at the Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal today.
Cruau added that France’s presence in the Indo-Pacific is motivated by its focus on missions dedicated to safeguarding security, peace, and stability, the cornerstones of prosperity.
He also highlighted that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is actively engaged in the Asean chairmanship 2025.
“As you are aware, he is travelling to Europe and will be visiting Brussels (Belgium) in the coming days. We hope for very positive news during this trip,” Cruau said.
Malaysia officially assumed the Asean chairmanship on January 1 under the theme ‘Inclusivity and Sustainability.’ This marks the fifth time Malaysia has held the chairmanship, following its terms in 1977, 1997, 2005, and 2015.
Earlier, Cruau and over 50 French Navy crew members honoured the crew of the French destroyer Mousquet, which was sunk during World War 1 in the Bay of Penang by the German cruiser Emden, at the Church of the Assumption.
He paid tribute to the 43 sailors who perished on October 28, 1914, when the Mousquet was sunk while attempting to intervene during the German raid that also destroyed the Russian cruiser Zhemchug.
Currently, the French Carrier Strike Group (CSG) comprising the Charles De Gaulle aircraft carrier, its embarked air fleet and its escort vessels (destroyers and supply ship) are making stopovers in Penang from January 12 as part of its Mission CLEMENCEAU 25.
According to the French Embassy in Malaysia, the CSG will join the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) in the fourth edition of the multinational exercise 'LA PEROUSE,' organised by the French Navy. This exercise will bring together eight partners — Australia, Canada, France, India, Malaysia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The maritime security exercise will be conducted across three strategic areas: the Straits of Melaka, La Sunda, and Lombok, Indonesia. Planned interactions will encompass a wide range of maritime security operations.
In the Strait of Melaka, the French Navy will deploy an Air Defence Destroyer, while the RMN will participate with one Corvette and one Offshore Patrol Vessel.
— Bernama
