Kuala lumpur: Malaysia is strengthening its commitment to multilateralism by opening up more markets through trade and investment partnerships, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said. Anwar told China broadcaster CGTN anchor Zheng Junfeng in a recent interview that Malaysia’s initial approach to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), following an invitation from Chinese President Xi Jinping, has yielded positive results and fostered further collaboration.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anwar highlighted Malaysia’s strategy to enhance trade and investment relations and broaden market access. He emphasized the importance of engaging with new mechanisms like the SCO and BRICS, alongside existing alliances such as ASEAN and ASEAN+ which include China, Korea, Japan, and other countries.

Anwar noted that the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will feature participation from leaders of Brazil, South Africa, Italy, and Canada, marking a significant advancement for the region. He also reiterated Malaysia’s interest in discussing with Thailand the potential extension of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project by 25 kilometers to reach the Thai border, pending discussions with the current or new Thai government.

In parallel, the prime minister expressed optimism about Malaysia’s ability to capitalize on the electric vehicle industry’s growth in China through Proton’s collaboration with Geely. Anwar has been in talks with Geely chairman Li Shufu to further enhance this partnership, backed by both governments. He announced plans for Geely’s major expansion into an automotive city, with initial production focusing on hybrid and electric vehicles.