Thread by @aei_official

We're live tweeting from the Asia-Europe Conference - Day 2. Our Keynote speaker for today is YM Raja Dato’ Nushirwan Zainal Abidin - Deputy Secretary General (Bilateral Affairs), Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia. #EuropeInTheNewAsia

As an open economy at the heart of SEA and strategically vulnerable , it’s in Msia's fundamental interest that there are as many players interacting based on transparent rules and norms. Thats how Msia promotes strategic balance and maximise strategic space. #EuropeInTheNewAsia

For Msia’s game plan as an open economy, it is important for major players to engage fully in the region. Both Europe and East Asia don't know each other well enough although we are changing in very significant ways. #EuropeInTheNewAsia

We have common interest such as maintaining rules-based international order. However, it is increasingly challenging given the current dynamics in the Trans-Atlantic ties. #EuropeInTheNewAsia

Conferences are important to address ignorance that we have about one another. #EuropeInTheNewAsia

There is no new Asia. Rather, it is the re-emergence of the old East Asia order that are interdependent between China, South, Southeast Asia, and new actors like Australia, New Zealand, Europe and others. It is the latter countries that need to adjust. #EuropeInTheNewAsia

It is natural for great powers to tweak international in order to serve its national interest. It's wrong that the West cannot accept that non-Western countries have ambition and are in a position to have global ambitions. #EuropeInTheNewAsia

If we can accept that great powers have global ambitions and the smaller powers have their own agencies, the sooner our anxiety will go away. Moreover, there is no new construct, rather, a tweak of current realities and developments. #EuropeInTheNewAsia

On the new ASEAN Indo-Pacific outlook:
1) Reinforces ASEAN’s central regional architecture
2) New no mechanism; strengthen community-building efforts and present realities
3) Emphasis on existing principles, centrality, non-intervention etc
4) Identify new areas for cooperation

On China:
China is doing what individual human beings wants, they want respect born out of their position and contribution to their world. If there is mutual respect, we can get along very well. That is Malaysia’s experience so far. #EuropeInTheNewAsia

Q&A on ASEAN in the next 5-10 years:
ASEAN is about community building, which is an extremely boring process, like watching the grass grow. It's not the sexy stuff that counts in the end. Generally, we are doing okay, slowly but surely. #EuropeInTheNewAsia

Key concern is never external, never about China-ASEAN, US-ASEAN relationship, but it's on how far are we proceeding with the really boring stuff (community-building). #EuropeInTheNewAsia

There will be challenges as all ASEAN countries are doing three things at the same time: nation-building, regional integration and getting more integrated to the global economy. Additionally, many of our borders are not natural borders. #EuropeInTheNewAsia

On IR and diplomacy:
They are distinct. Policy making tends to be based on IR theory, but not diplomacy. The latter is about the people, knowing sensitivities, and they don't necessarily teach that in IR. #EuropeInTheNewAsia