Kuala lumpur: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called on the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies to serve as a bridge beyond the platform with greater participation from Latin American and African economies. He emphasized that this expansion would enable APEC’s agenda to be translated into something more substantially transformative, inclusive, and truly impactful.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anwar spoke during Malaysia’s intervention at the APEC Economic Leaders’ Dialogue with Guests, highlighting that this goal can be achieved through either formal or informal engagements between these countries and APEC member economies. He stated that APEC should act as a bridge not only for Asia-Pacific economies but also facilitate engagement with Latin American and African regions towards a more balanced global economic order.
Anwar further elaborated on the potential of this approach to set a trajectory towards a more equitable economic architecture, aiming to narrow the gap between the Global North and the Global South. He pointed out that historically, APEC has been a trailblazer in shaping global economic norms, despite being a voluntary and non-binding platform.
The Prime Minister praised APEC’s catalytic role in pioneering plurilateral arrangements, incubating frameworks for trade facilitation, and leading by example in reducing tariffs for environmental goods. Anwar advocated for APEC’s gentle yet persuasive approach, emphasizing that its ethos of persuasion rather than imposition might be precisely what the world needs today.
Looking forward, Anwar noted that APEC, comprising 21 economies, is currently nurturing ideas to address challenges shaping their collective future, such as green growth, sustainable finance, digital transformation, and equal access to technology. He mentioned that these themes align closely with Malaysia’s MADANI Economy framework, which aims to build a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable economy.
Anwar also stressed the importance of a whole-of-society approach to bring about real and value-added change amid global transformation. He concluded that the future will belong to regions fostering collaboration among governments, industries, academia, and communities, emphasizing that collaborative governance is about sharing purpose rather than power.