The joint virtual session was held on Monday, July 12, 2021, between the Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS) and the Institute of Strategic and international Studies (ISIS) of Malaysia about regional and international issues.

The meeting was attended by Dr.Mohammad Sajjadpour, Deputy Minister of MOFA & President of IPIS; Dr.Majid Ghafelehbashi, Research Deputy at the center; Khalil Shirgholami and Hossein Molaabdollahi, Senior Experts at the center; Seyedmohammad Taghi Hosseini, Educational General Director of Foreign Ministry; Mr.Herizal Hezri, President of ISIS; Muhammad Sinatra, Thomas Daniel and Larry Wang , Top Researchers at ISIS.  

 The meeting was held in the form of two panels  “ Regional Developments in Southeast Asia and the Persian Gulf” and “Most important Developments on the International Arena”, to answer the following questions: 1) What are the main challenges lying ahead of peace and stability  in Southeast Asia and the Persian Gulf? (2) What are the impacts of the corona pandemic on the international issues? (3) How do you assess the US-Chinese rivalry?

Here are the most important matters touched upon at the session:

• The Iran/Malaysia relations as two important Muslim countries can have great influence in expanding ties among Muslim countries as well as institutionalizing peace and stability in the region. Exchanging experiences between the two countries is of importance for improving conditions in West Asia and Southeast Asia for overcoming security issues. However, the two countries’ priorities are in the areas of bilateral issues such as broadening cooperation in trade, healthcare and research.
• The main lesson of corona for the world is necessity of efforts to be made for broadening cooperation and collective wisdom and exchanging experiences and capabilities for overcoming problems. Today, no single country in the world can solely rely for its survival on its domestic capabilities and wide interaction with the world is a must.
• The Middle East developments impact other world regions, the clear example of which being the emergence of Isis in Iraq and Syria which triggered a wave of migration of hundreds of people from Southeast Asia countries to Iraq and Syria to join the terrorist group. Return of these persons to their countries of origin has made the Southeast Asia countries faced with serious security challenges.
• The US-China rivalry should not tip the balance of peace and stability in various regions across the world; strengthening regional cooperation, multilaterism and collaboration based on collective peace can be an appropriate way in this regard. Iran and Malaysia as two main actors in the region and traditional friends can be at the center of any initiatives for peace and security in West and Southeast regions.