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THE 25th ASEAN Economic Community Council (AECC) Meeting convened today on the sidelines of the 46th ASEAN Summit, with economic ministers from across the region deliberating on 11 key agendas aimed at reinforcing cooperation among member states of the Southeast Asian bloc.
Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, who chaired the session, emphasised in his opening remarks the importance of unified action in navigating today’s complex economic landscape.
"The current global economic environment necessitates cooperation and commitment in advancing the shared interests of ASEAN nations," he said.
He further stressed the need to deepen regional trade ties, noting: "At the same time, we must explore ways to boost intra-ASEAN trade in order to reduce our dependency on external partners."
Tengku Zafrul highlighted ASEAN's response to recent economic policy shifts by the United States, describing it as deliberate and prudent.
"Rather than resorting to retaliatory measures, we have opted for dialogue and cooperation, with ASEAN Member States (AMS) clearly committed to refraining from reciprocal actions. Open communication remains key to maintaining balanced and sustainable relations," he stated.
"This cautious stance has successfully avoided rising tensions and preserved the foundation for engagement—not only with the US but also with other major economies," he added.
The meeting gathered high-level participation including Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Liew Chin Tong; Brunei's Second Minister of Finance and Economy Datuk Dr Awang Mohd Amin Liew Abdullah; Cambodia’s Minister of Commerce Cham Nimul; Vietnam’s Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien; Indonesia’s Minister of Trade Budi Santoso; and Laos’ Minister of Industry and Commerce Malaithong Kommasith.
Also present were Undersecretary of the Philippines Department of Trade and Industry Allan B. Gepty; 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.
This year’s summit, hosted under Malaysia’s 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship themed "Inclusivity and Sustainability", marks the fifth time Malaysia has led the bloc—following previous chairmanships in 1977, 1997, 2005, and 2015.
The summit and its related meetings are set to address pressing regional and international issues, including the protracted crisis in Myanmar, which continues to be a key concern for ASEAN.
In addition to intra-ASEAN discussions, the summit will feature two key interregional platforms—the second ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit and the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit—highlighting the bloc’s deepening strategic engagement with Gulf states and China. - May 25, 2025
