KUALA LUMPUR: The 25th ASEAN Economic Community Council (AECC) meeting convened today with 11 key agendas under discussion, as economic ministers from across the region gathered on the sidelines of the 46th ASEAN Summit to explore deeper cooperation and regional integration.
Malaysian Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, who chaired the meeting, stressed the need for ASEAN member states to prioritise unity and shared progress in light of ongoing global uncertainties.
“The current economic environment calls for collaboration and commitment to advancing common interests among ASEAN members,” said Tengku Zafrul in his opening remarks.
He also highlighted the importance of strengthening intra-ASEAN trade to reduce dependence on external partners, underscoring the need to build regional resilience amid evolving global trade dynamics.
Touching on recent developments in US economic policy, the minister commended ASEAN’s measured response.
“Instead of retaliation, we have chosen dialogue and cooperation. ASEAN member states have shown a clear commitment not to impose retaliatory measures, emphasising that open communication is key to a balanced and sustainable relationship,” he said.
He added that this prudent stance has helped prevent unnecessary escalation, preserving a strong foundation for ASEAN’s engagement not only with the US but also other major global economies.
The AECC meeting was attended by senior officials and ministers, including 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 representatives included Undersecretary Allan B. Gepty of the Philippines’ Department of Trade and Industry; 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, hosted at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), is being held under Malaysia’s 2025 Chairmanship theme, “Inclusivity and Sustainability.” This marks Malaysia’s fifth time chairing ASEAN, following its previous terms in 1977, 1997, 2005, and 2015.
The Summit is set to address a range of pressing regional and global issues, with the crisis in Myanmar expected to remain a focal point of concern.
In addition to ASEAN-level meetings, the Summit will feature two key inter-regional engagements—the 2nd ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit and the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit—highlighting ASEAN’s growing ties with strategic partners in the Gulf and China.
— BERNAMA
