KUALA LUMPUR (May 25): The 25th Asean Economic Community Council (AECC) meeting convened on Sunday, 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 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 Zafrul, the meeting was attended by Malaysia's 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).

The 46th Asean Summit, being held under Malaysia’s 2025 chairmanship theme of “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 (Asean-GCC) Summit, and the Asean GCC-China Summit, signalling growing engagement between Southeast Asia and its strategic partners in the Gulf and China.

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