Page 25 - IDFR-Diplomatic Voice Vol 2 2014

FORUM NEWS All participants who attended this recent challenging events afflicting the course were motivated and inte- country, the ASEAN meeting and the racted nicely in an enjoyable atmo- visit of Barack Obama that brought an sphere. It was also beneficial for team additional work load for the Foreign building as it gave the participants a Ministry, the majority of the registered chance to meet in a different venue participants successfully completed and a more relaxed environment. It these courses. They are looking was also a great opportunity for forward to the next course. people working in different divisions to ous knowledge of the language they meet and catch up with each other. Congratulations to all those who were had chosen. Nevertheless a few of Many were keen to attend cultural willing to sacrifice part of their week- them had never learnt the language events together, especially during the end for their self improvement as well before. So, this basic foreign language French Speaking Week and the French as for better career prospects. course consisted of a revision for Art and Film Festival as well as the some, while it was a totally new expe- Latin American Festival in Kuala Hopefully, they will continue learning rience for others. A few participants Lumpur. The coffee break was their and practising together so that they from previous and on going Diploma in favorite place for exchanging tips and eventually become proficient in their Diplomacy courses also joined the updating each other on the latest respective foreign language. group. Ultimately the group blended foreign food joint or happenings in perfectly, in spite of the differences in town. We wish them all the best! level and background, everyone participated actively. Although the timing coincided with the The 28th Asia-Pacific Roundtable (APR) The 28th Asia-Pacific Roundtable countries. Without which, this would spoke on the importance of the (APR) was held on 2-4 June 2014 at be a world where, quoting the Greek Asia-Pacific region and Prime Minister the Hilton Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. historian Thucydides, “the strong do Abe’s visit to 14 countries in the Organised by the Institute of Strategic what they can and the weak suffer Asia-Pacific region after assuming and International Studies (ISIS) Malay- what they must.” He also mentioned office in December 2012 is a testa- sia on behalf of the ASEAN-ISIS, the that Malaysia and its ASEAN partners ment of Japan’s cognizance of the three-day roundtable brought together have placed much emphasis on build- importance of the region. Mr. Mitsuya about 400 distinguished speakers and ing institutions, rules and norms espe- also highlighted security issues in the participants from the diplomatic cially in the current on-going efforts to Asia-Pacific region such as the grow- corps, universities, government agen- realize the ASEAN Community. He ing threat of mass destruction wea- cies, think tanks as well as media from impressed on Malaysia’s strong pons, the surge in military spending about 30 countries of the Asia-Pacific commitment towards the recent Joint and arms trade, threat against and Europe. Declaration of the ASEAN Defence freedoms of navigation and over flight Ministers on Defence Cooperation on the high seas, challenges in The keynote address during the towards a Peaceful and Prosperous non-traditional security issues, and Welcoming Dinner on 2 June 2014 ASEAN Community. Datuk Seri Dr. issues related to the East and South was delivered by the Minister of Home Ahmad Zahid Hamidi also highlighted China Seas that would undermine Affairs, Malaysia, the Honorable Datuk the issues related to the South China mutual trust of states. At the end, he Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on behalf Sea, the spirit of cooperation among proposed three Issue Resolution of the Prime Minister of Malaysia, countries in the MH370 incident, Approaches to be taken within the Dato’ Seri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul countering the threat of terrorism and region; namely, cooperation for Razak, as the Prime Minister was a nuclear-free world. enhancing the global commons, away from Kuala Lumpur on official reinforcing regional architecture, and duties. In the keynote address, he The first plenary session discussed strengthening partnerships based on stressed the importance of the role of Opportunities and Challenges in Cons- trust. norms, rules and institutions in sha- tructing a Peaceful and Prosperous ping the world we live today as well as Region: a Japanese Perspective. The The second plenary session consisted the commitment to nurturing and speaker, the Honorable Mr. Norio of Prof. Dr. Paul Evans from the strengthening the bonds of friendship Mitsuya, Senior Parliamentary Vice- Institute of Asian Research & Liu and international cooperation among Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Institute for Global Issues, the Univer- DIPLOMATIC VOICE 25