25-05-2025
ASEAN Economic Ministers Convene With 11 Key Agendas, Call For Deeper Cooperation -- Tengku Zafrul
GENERAL
Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Aziz poses for a group photo with ASEAN Economic Community Council (AECC) leaders before chairing the 25th ASEAN AECC Meeting on the sidelines of the 46th ASEAN Summit, held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC). -- fotoBERNAMA (2025) COPYRIGHT RESERVED
By Anas Abu Hassan
KUALA LUMPUR, May 25 (Bernama) -- The 25th ASEAN Economic Community Council (AECC) meeting convened today on the sidelines of the 46th ASEAN Summit with 11 agendas up for discussion among the bloc's state representatives, with talks focused on deeper cooperation.
Malaysian Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz in his opening remarks said the current economic environment calls for collaboration and commitment to advancing common interests among the ASEAN members.
"At the same time, we also internally need to look into ways to increase intra-ASEAN trade so as to reduce our dependencies towards external partners," he said.
The minister highlighted that ASEAN's response in addressing the recent shifts in economic posture by the United States (US) so far has been measured and wise.
"Instead of retaliation, we have chosen dialogue and cooperation with a clear commitment among ASEAN Member States (AMS) to not impose retaliatory measures, emphasising that open communication is key to a balanced and sustainable relationship.
"This prudent stance has already averted escalation and preserved the foundation for engagement between ASEAN, not just with the US but with other major economies as well," he added.
Chaired by Tengku Zafrul, the meeting was attended by Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Liew Chin Tong; Brunei's Minister of Finance and Economy II Datuk Awang Mohd Amin Liew Abdullah; Minister of Commerce Cham Nimul (Cambodia); Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien (Vietnam); Trade Minister Budi Santoso (Indonesia); and Minister of Industry and Commerce Malaithong Kommasith (Laos).
Other representatives who attended the meeting included Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary Allan B. Gepty (Philippines), Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong (Singapore), Minister of Commerce Pichai Naripthaphan (Thailand) and Deputy Prime Minister Francisco Kalbuadi Lay (Timor-Leste).
