Kuala Lumpur: The 25th ASEAN Economic Community Council (AECC) meeting convened today on the sidelines of the 46th ASEAN Summit with 11 key agendas under discussion. The talks among the bloc’s state representatives emphasized the need for deeper cooperation.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Malaysian Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, in his opening remarks, stressed the importance of collaboration and commitment to advancing common interests among ASEAN members in the current economic environment. He highlighted the need to boost intra-ASEAN trade to reduce dependencies on external partners.

The minister noted that ASEAN’s approach to recent shifts in economic posture by the United States has been measured. “Instead of retaliation, we have chosen dialogue and cooperation, with a clear commitment among ASEAN Member States to not impose retaliatory measures,” he stated, underscoring the importance of open communication for a balanced relationship.

Chaired by Tengku Zafrul, the meeting included significant attendees such as Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Liew Chin Tong from Malaysia, Brunei’s Minister of Finance and Economy II Datuk Awang Mohd Amin Liew Abdullah, and representatives from Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Laos, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Timor-Leste.

This year’s ASEAN Summit, under Malaysia’s 2025 Chairmanship theme of ‘Inclusivity and Sustainability’, marks Malaysia’s fifth time chairing the regional bloc. The summit addresses pressing regional and international issues, with the ongoing crisis in Myanmar as a key concern for ASEAN member states.

Additionally, the summit features the 2nd ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit and the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit, highlighting growing engagement between Southeast Asia and its strategic partners in the Gulf and China.