Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will travel to Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore from 24 to 28 October to mark Finland’s growing engagement with Southeast Asia. The visit will focus on Finland’s accession to ASEAN’s Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC), the promotion of economic ties and investments, and dialogue on network security.
Valtonen will officially sign the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Kuala Lumpur on 25 October, a move that will strengthen Finland’s partnership with ASEAN and support its foreign policy objectives in the region.
“Finland will deepen its relations with Southeast Asian countries, one concrete example being Finland’s accession to ASEAN’s Treaty of Amity and Cooperation. We aim to strengthen trade relations and dialogue to promote stability, economic cooperation and sustainable development,” Valtonen said.
During her stay in Malaysia, the minister will meet several ASEAN ministers and ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn to discuss bilateral and regional cooperation.
In Jakarta, the focus will be on commercial and economic collaboration, including digital security. Meetings with Indonesian government representatives and Finnish and Indonesian business leaders are planned to explore opportunities in infrastructure, industry and investment.
In Singapore, Valtonen will meet Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs K. Shanmugam as well as key economic and technology partners. She will also deliver a lecture titled “Resilience the Finnish Way – Small States in a Turbulent World” as part of the Raffles Lectures series hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).
Finland’s accession to ASEAN’s TAC highlights the Nordic country’s commitment to peace, friendship and cooperation in Southeast Asia, joining other Nordic nations already strengthening their presence and partnerships across the region.
Source: Finland in Indonesia
