On 7 September 2026, the Embassy of Malaysia in Belgium hosted a diplomatic reception in the Grand Ballroom of The Hotel, Boulevard de Waterloo 38, 1000 Brussels, to mark the 69th anniversary of Malaysia’s independence. Far from being a mere ceremonial protocol, the event served as a strategic platform to present Kuala Lumpur’s political, economic, and diplomatic vision to its European partners. Before an audience of diplomats, Belgian authorities, and European institutional representatives, H.E. Dato’ Mohd Khalid Abbasi Abdul Razak delivered a speech that went well beyond commemoration to outline the contours of a confident and forward-looking Malaysian diplomacy.
Central Asia has long been called a bridge, a buffer, a heartland and a Silk Road region. But today, a new image is needed. “The Five Gates of Eurasia” presents Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan as five complementary gateways linking Europe and Asia through modern, trusted and sustainable cooperation.