Malaysia Outlines Strategic Priorities for Asean Chairmanship in 2025

Strengthening Regional Value Chains and Regulatory Cooperation

• Malaysia highlighted the importance of enhancing regional value chains and regulatory cooperation within Asean.
• This strategy aims to boost trade and investment linkages while fostering digital transformation in the region.
  

  Reinforcing Member Countries’ Economic Fundamentals
  

• Malaysia emphasized the need to reinforce the economic fundamentals of Asean member countries.
• This involves reinventing, restructuring, and recalibrating economies to leverage each other’s strengths for sustainable growth.
  

  Securing Regional Supply Chain and Strengthening Global Economic Linkages
  

• Anwar Ibrahim believes that Asean can achieve economic resilience and become the fourth-largest economy by 2030 through securing regional supply chains and strengthening global economic linkages.
• He urged determination and commitment from Asean countries to achieve this goal.
  

  Enhancing Intra-Asean Trade
  

• Despite significant economic growth in Southeast Asia, intra-Asean trade has remained low for decades.
• Anwar highlighted the vast potential for enhancement, especially with the upcoming upgrade of the Asean Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) in 2025.
  

  Expanding Economic Partnerships Beyond Regional Borders
  

• Malaysia proposed the Asean-GCC + China Summit in 2025 to explore and expand economic partnerships beyond regional borders.
• Anwar expressed appreciation for the support of Asean member states for this proposal.
  

  Timor-Leste’s Impending Inclusion
  

• Anwar commented on Timor-Leste’s impending inclusion in Asean, noting that it will expand the region’s economy and contribute to Asean’s economic resilience.
• Timor-Leste was granted official observer status and received approval to join Asean during previous summits.
  

  Asean Summits and Related Summits in Laos
  

• The 44th and 45th Asean Summits and Related Summits officially began in the Lao capital and will conclude on Oct 11.
• Anwar will attend Plus One Summits with dialogue partners and other key summits during the event.
• The closing ceremony will see Laos handing over the Asean chairmanship to Malaysia, with Anwar scheduled to deliver a speech outlining Malaysia’s vision as Asean chair.
  

  Conclusion
  

  Malaysia’s strategic priorities for Asean chairmanship in 2025 focus on strengthening regional value chains, enhancing economic fundamentals, securing supply chains, expanding trade, and fostering global economic linkages. These initiatives aim to position Asean as the fourth-largest economy by 2030 and promote economic resilience within the region. Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership and vision for Asean highlight the importance of collaboration and commitment among member countries to achieve sustainable growth and prosperity.