KUALA LUMPUR – 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 Investment, Trade and Industry Minister 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 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 Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Liew Chin Tong; Brunei’s Finance and Economy Minister II Datuk Awang Mohd Amin Liew Abdullah; Commerce Minister Cham Nimul (Cambodia); Industry and Trade Minister Nguyen Hong Dien (Vietnam); Trade Minister Budi Santoso (Indonesia); and Industry and Commerce Minister Malaithong Kommasith (Laos).
Other representatives who attended the meeting included Trade and Industry Department Undersecretary Allan B. Gepty (Philippines), Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong (Singapore), Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan (Thailand) and Deputy Prime Minister Francisco Kalbuadi Lay (Timor-Leste).
The 46th Asean Summit, being held under Malaysia’s 2025 Chairmanship theme, “Inclusivity and Sustainability”, also marks Malaysia’s fifth time chairing the regional bloc since its previous chairmanships in 1977, 1997, 2005 and 2015.
The Asean Summit and its related meetings are expected to address a wide range of pressing regional and international issues, with the ongoing crisis in Myanmar remaining a key point of concern for Asean member states.
In addition to the Asean-level meetings, the summit will also feature two important inter-regional platforms, the 2nd Asean-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit and the Asean-GCC-China Summit, signalling growing engagement between Southeast Asia and its strategic partners in the Gulf and China. – May 25, 2025