KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will spotlight the role of artificial intelligence (AI), demographic challenges, and the importance of open trade at the 31st APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT) Meeting, to be held in Jeju, South Korea from May 15–16.
Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz will lead the Malaysian delegation to the regional summit, where member economies are expected to align on trade facilitation, digital innovation, and sustainable economic development.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), Malaysia will reaffirm its commitment to a transparent, rules-based multilateral trading system, with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) at its core.
“Malaysia remains committed to working closely with APEC economies to ensure that sustainability, innovation, and open trade are reinforcing and beneficial to all as the region moves towards a more resilient, inclusive, and future-ready Asia-Pacific,” said Tengku Zafrul.
The country’s stance aligns with the APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040, which emphasises inclusive and sustainable growth through fair and non-discriminatory trade and investment.
MITI also underscored Malaysia’s support for AI as a catalyst for trade innovation, echoing APEC’s aspiration to shape a digitally powered regional economy.
Tengku Zafrul is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with key trade partners, including APEC-ASEAN trade ministers and WTO Director-General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Additionally, he will attend the Informal Ministerial Meeting of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), held alongside the APEC discussions.
