.png)
MALAYSIA, as Co-Chair of the 3rd Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Leaders’ Meeting, has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing regional cooperation for a just, inclusive, and pragmatic net-zero transition, balancing sustainable economic growth with energy security.
The meeting, co-chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, brought together leaders from Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The leaders adopted the AZEC Leaders’ Joint Statement, endorsing shared efforts to tackle climate change, foster inclusive economic growth, and ensure energy security across Asia.
In line with the Action Plan for the Next Decade, AZEC partners reported notable progress in low-carbon initiatives, emphasising not only policy coordination but also practical project implementation, scaling up decarbonisation technologies, and mobilising blended financing mechanisms.
“Through AZEC, regional collaboration is focused on tangible outcomes, enabling the deployment of clean technologies while respecting national circumstances and development priorities,” the Ministry of Economy said.
Key achievements highlighted included the convening of the AZEC International Conference on Carbon Markets, advancement of facility-level greenhouse gas measurement and reporting systems under the PaSTI–JAIF Phase 3 initiative, and the AZEC Leading Action Forum (AZEC LEAF), which shared best practices for energy transition in power, transport, and industry sectors.
The meeting also recognised technical cooperation and training programmes led by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and financing initiatives through the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) supporting energy-saving technologies, grid modernisation, decarbonisation partnerships, and infrastructure projects across the region.
Additionally, the 6th ASEAN Japan Smart Cities Network High-Level Meeting highlighted Green Transformation cooperation, including a new smart-city pilot project and regional knowledge-sharing on circular economy strategies.
The outcomes of the meeting reaffirmed Asia’s determination to achieve net-zero emissions through diverse and practical approaches, reinforcing economic competitiveness, energy resilience, and regional cooperation in line with the Asia Zero Emission principles, the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), and Malaysia’s Thirteenth Plan.
Malaysia’s hosting of the 3rd AZEC Leaders’ Meeting marks a pivotal milestone in strengthening Asia’s cooperative framework for a sustainable, net-zero, and prosperous future. - October 26, 2025
