Southeast Asian foreign ministers are gathering for their first meeting this year under the regional bloc’s new chair, Malaysia, seeking a breakthrough over Myanmar’s drawn-out civil war and territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

The Asean Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) began on Saturday to engage in in-depth discussions on key regional issues, formulate recommendations, and align Asean Member States in preparation for the ministerial-level meeting the following day.

Myanmar has been in turmoil since 2021 when its military overthrew the government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.