KUALA LUMPUR: Asean leaders have agreed in consensus to strengthen investments and trade within countries in the region amid shifting geopolitical dynamics in the world, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister also said it is important to strengthen resilience among Asean nations and this was agreed by all leaders present in the 46th Asean Summit and Related Summits.
“We have to navigate in an increasingly complex global landscape, either shifting geopolitical dynamics, or the unilateral and protectionist tendencies, particularly by the superpowers.
“So, we have to strengthen our internal resilience and this was a consensus among Asean leaders this morning, that the answer, is of course, to negotiate with the rest,” said Anwar during his opening remarks at the Asean Business Advisory Council (Asean-BAC) interface on Monday (May 26).
Anwar also said all Presidents and Prime Ministers present at the 46th Asean Summit and Related Summits agreed that there is no reason why inter-Asean trade should be “limited”.
“The potential is enormous, so please come up with specific proposals, how we can force policy makers to accept some recommendations,” said Anwar to delegates.
At the same time, Anwar said the Asean-BAC interface was an annual affair in Asean Summits because leaders felt that collaborating with the private sector is crucial.
“To ensure that development can be achieved through a faster pace, some decisions must be made by the private sector and business community to complement the efforts of the government.
“That is why, it is a standard procedure that all Asean Summits must have the Asean-BAC interface so that views and suggestions can be expressed,” said Anwar, adding that some proposals made during the interface were eventually adopted by governments.
Leaders in the region are meeting during the 46th Asean Summit on May 26 and the summits with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and China on May 27.