Ankara: Turkey has expressed interest in becoming a dialogue partner at the 2025 ASEAN Summits to be held in Kuala Lumpur in May and September, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof. Fadillah stated that the interest was conveyed by Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz during a courtesy call in Ankara, as part of his two-day official working visit to the republic.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Fadillah, who is also Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, said Turkiye hoped Malaysia, as ASEAN chair this year, could support the aspiration. He emphasized that to become a dialogue partner, Turkiye must secure consensus from all ASEAN member states. He assured that he would personally convey the request to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for discussion at the ASEAN leadership level. Should there be agreement, Turkiye would be invited.

Fadillah added that Turkiye could be considered for participation in the business segment of the ASEAN Energy Ministers’ Meeting in September, even if consensus on formal partnership has yet to be reached. He mentioned the possibility of inviting them to present or participate on a business basis, not as a Dialogue Partner but as an entity involved in the forum.

On the meeting with Yilmaz, Fadillah noted that Turkiye had also shown interest in Malaysia’s preparations in response to United States tariffs and in addressing broader economic challenges. He said Malaysia was eager to learn from Turkiye’s expertise in energy, technology, and water management, particularly in the context of increasing energy trade and exchange within Europe.

Turkiye is among the leading producers of renewable energy in Europe and globally, with over 50 percent of its electricity generated from clean sources including solar, hydroelectric, and geothermal. Fadillah mentioned that Yilmaz expressed a desire to reduce the trade deficit between both countries and to deepen government-to-government, business-to-business, and people-to-people ties, including through cultural and student exchange programmes.

He further stated that they are looking to elevate the existing high-level committee to include ministerial representation, with the Malaysian embassy working with their Turkish counterparts to finalize the details.