Mohamad described the outcome as “very good”, calling the SEANWFZ commitment a significant move for regional security.

“(China will sign) as soon as possible when documentation is ready,” he told reporters after meeting his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi during the Asean Post-Ministerial Conference (PMC) this morning.

The SEANWFZ, which was signed in 1995 and came into force in 1997, commits Asean member states to not develop, manufacture, acquire, possess, or control nuclear weapons.

The treaty also includes a protocol that invites the five recognised nuclear weapon states – China, Russia, the US, the UK, and France – to commit to not using or threatening to use nuclear weapons against SEANWFZ parties.

If China proceeds with signing the protocol unconditionally, it will be the first nuclear-armed state to do so.

Mohamad also said they had discussed ongoing South China Sea issues, including the principles of free navigation and overflight.

“I think there’s more room for us to improve and strengthen our bilateral and multilateral relationship with China,” he said.

Speaking at the Asean-China meeting earlier, Wang urged Southeast Asian nations to uphold Asian values of openness and cooperation and said that the two blocs should “strengthen Asia’s revitalisation amid the historical trend of the rising Global South”.

“Only when Asia thrives can the world be better. China has always made Asean a priority in its neighbourhood diplomacy,” he said, adding that China viewed the region as a pilot zone for building a community with a shared future for mankind.

He also said China was looking forward to formally signing the upgraded Asean-China Free Trade Area agreement within the year, with negotiations already concluded.