Kuala Lumpur: The 25th ASEAN Economic Community Council (AECC) meeting convened today on the sidelines of the 46th ASEAN Summit, introducing 11 key agendas for discussion among the bloc’s state representatives, with talks centered on fostering deeper cooperation.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Malaysian Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, in his opening remarks, emphasized the need for collaboration and commitment to advancing common interests amongst ASEAN members in the current economic climate. He urged for increased intra-ASEAN trade to reduce dependencies on external partners, highlighting the bloc’s measured and wise response to recent economic shifts by the United States.
“Instead of retaliation, we have chosen dialogue and cooperation with a clear commitment among ASEAN Member States (AMS) to not impose retaliatory measures, emphasizing that open communication is key to a balanced and sustainable relationship,” he stated. He further noted that this prudent stance has averted escalation and preserved the foundation for engagement between ASEAN and major economies, including the US.
Chaired by Tengku Zafrul, the meeting saw participation from various key figures including Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Liew Chin Tong, Brunei’s Minister of Finance and Economy II Datuk Awang Mohd Amin Liew Abdullah, Cambodia’s Minister of Commerce Cham Nimul, Vietnam’s Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, Indonesia’s Trade Minister Budi Santoso, and Laos’ Minister of Industry and Commerce Malaithong Kommasith. Other attendees included the Philippines’ Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary Allan B. Gepty, Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, Thailand’s Minister of Commerce Pichai Naripthaphan, and Timor-Leste’s Deputy Prime Minister Francisco Kalbuadi Lay.
The 46th ASEAN Summit, under Malaysia’s 2025 Chairmanship theme, ‘Inclusivity and Sustainability’, also marks Malaysia’s fifth term chairing the regional bloc since its previous chairmanships in 1977, 1997, 2005, and 2015. The summit and its related meetings are expected to tackle a range of pressing regional and international issues, with the ongoing crisis in Myanmar being a significant point of concern for ASEAN member states.
Additionally, the summit will feature two important inter-regional platforms: the 2nd ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit and the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit, indicating growing engagement between Southeast Asia and its strategic partners in the Gulf and China.