Anifah on four-day visit to Belgium, attends high-level conference on mediation

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman is currently on a four-day official visit to Brussels, Belgium to attend the High-Level Conference on Mediation.

Wisma Putra in a statement today said Anifah's participation in the conference reaffirmed Malaysia's commitment to supporting mediation as a tool to promote and maintain peace, security and stability among nations.

Themed 'Mediation: Possibilities and Limits - Recent Experiences in the Pursuit of Peace', seeks to share knowledge and best practices with specific countries as case studies in the field of mediation through three thematic panel discussions.

Wisma Putra said Anifah's visit, which was at the invitation of his counterpart who is also Belgian Deputy Minister Didier Reynders, provided impetus to the bilateral relations between the two countries.

It said that 2017 marked the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and Belgium.

Yesterday, Anifah also had a bilateral meeting with his counterpart, Reynders to discuss follow-up measures to the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) Foreign Ministers Meeting on MH17, which was held in New York on Sept 20, last year.

Wisma Putra said both foreign ministers discussed on, among others, strengthening cooperation and sharing of best practices on counter-terrorism including the establishment of the Counter Messaging Centre (CMC).

"They also spoke on the Digital Strategic Communication Division under the Southeast Asia Regional Centre For Counter-Terrorism (SEARCCT), to counter the narratives of terrorism and extremists," it said.

At the meeting, Anifah and Reynder also discussed on refugees and migration including Malaysia's role in addressing the root causes of the humanitarian situation of the Rohingyas, and proving humanitarian assistance, both bilaterally and internationally such as by ASEAN and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

"Both leaders also discussed on continuous collaboration between ASEAN and EU on areas of common interest such as trade and investment. They also exchanged views on regional and international issues of common concern," Wisma Putra added.

Anifah also briefed Reynders on Malaysia's role in mediating the southern Philipines peace process, and as facilitator of the southern Thailand Peace Dialogue.

The statement said Anifah conveyed Malaysia's support for Belgium's candidacy for a United Nations Security Council Non-Permanent Member seat for the 2019-2020 term. -- Bernama