KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim expressed confidence in fostering stronger cooperation between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) as Malaysia prepares to assume the Asean chairmanship on Jan 1, 2025.
In an interview with China Central Television (CCTV) in Beijing, Anwar said his priority will be to enhance collaboration and promote regional unity.
"Our focus for Asean would include, of course, political stability, effective collaboration between countries, even dealing with somewhat more precarious or contested issues," he was quoted saying in Buletin Utama TV3.
He also emphasised that inclusivity and sustainability will be central to Malaysia's leadership during its Asean chairmanship.
In October, it was reported that leaders of China and Asean countries announced commitment to upgrade negotiations on Version 3.0 China-Asean Free Trade Area (FTA) at the 27th China-Asean Summit.
Anwar said this initiative is expected to pave the way for one of the world's most populous and robust FTAs to play a bigger role in boosting regional development amid rising global protectionism.
Malaysia, he said, has been accelerating the promotion of the signing of the 3.0 upgrade protocol and cooperation between China and Asean countries.
"We have now accelerated the process. Meetings among officials are ongoing. And we are quite confident that we could cement that sort of understanding by next year. We happen to be, other than Asean, we are also the country coordinator between Asean and China. So, we will do whatever is necessary, not only to facilitate but to accelerate the process. And therefore I am quite optimistic," he was quoted of saying during the interview in Beijing, China.