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INSTITUTE OF DIPLOMACY AND FOREIGN RELATIONS INSTITUTE OF DIPLOMACY AND FOREIGN RELATIONS
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, MALAYSIA MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, MALAYSIA

Several key questions were asked by the audience capacity to retain economic growth while adhering to
ranging from the political position between the political international law as well as fair and free competition
parties in Palestine, opportunities in education for despite the differences in size. Moreover, the ‘open-
international students, and the nation’s diplomatic door’ policy within the territory has also convinced H.E.
connections with other nations. Finally, he concluded to strengthen the collaboration and maintain existing
the session by thanking the audience for their continued partnerships in order to address contemporary problems
support and solidarity with Palestine. based on shared common values.

IDFR Lecture Series 2021 On United States’ relationship with ASEAN, H.E.
McFeeters added that the collaboration has inclined
The Centre successfully hosted the IDFR Lecture Series towards the issues of economic integration, maritime
(ILS) 2021 titled ‘The Biden Presidency and US Policy cooperation, youth and women’s empowerment, as
in Southeast Asia’ on 9 June 2021. The lecture was well as resolving transnational issues. He highlighted
delivered by the U.S. Ambassador to Malaysia, H.E. the importance of a partnership between ASEAN and
Brian D. McFeeters, and moderated by Distinguished Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) in resolving
Fellow of IDFR and President of the Malaysian those challenges.
Association for American Studies (MAAS), Prof Dr K.S.
Nathan. The lecture recorded an attendance of 186 On Malaysia-US bilateral relations, H.E. McFeeters
guests from various embassies and high commissions mentioned that in 2019 the U.S. FDI with Malaysia was
as well as officials from key ministries, government approximately USD$353 billion, which was more than
agencies, think tanks, and universities. that of China, Korea, and Japan combined. Malaysia’s
collaboration with U.S. corporations has largely been
Prof Dr K.S. Nathan started off by laying out several in the development of high-tech equipment to preserve
important presumptions, including the U.S. current stable global supply chains and an open trade economy.
relationship with China, the U.S. attitude towards This type of investment would enhance Malaysia’s
economic regionalism within the Asian Pacific region, competitiveness and government service efficiency,
and U.S. initiatives to improve bilateral relations with especially in the digital realm.
several key ASEAN actors.
During the Q&A session, questions were directed
H.E. McFeeters began the speech by underlining towards how the U.S. plans to increase engagement,
Biden administration’s commitment in expanding the capability, and commitment on education matters as
American involvement in Southeast Asia and Asia as a part of its foreign policy towards Malaysia. On top of
whole. Based on various collaborations in the spheres
of security, diplomacy, and economy, H.E. maintained
his position throughout the lecture that the current
government is focusing more on continuity rather than
change.

H.E. further added that the Asian continent is becoming
highly significant in politics and economy within
the Indo-Pacific area. According to H.E, they have
maintained their sovereignty and demonstrated their

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