Frontier Technologies Vital To ASEAN Plus Three’s Future - FM Mohamad
By Samantha Tan
KUALA LUMPUR, July 10 (Bernama) -- Embracing frontier technologies is vital for the ASEAN Plus Three (APT) to remain agile, well-coordinated and forward-looking, ensuring its continued relevance and impact, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
He said ASEAN’s regional digital transformation is projected to contribute about US$2 trillion to regional gross domestic product (GDP), supported by the technological expertise of China, Japan and South Korea.
"Such initiatives support Malaysia’s objective, as Chair of ASEAN, to narrow development gaps, enabling equitable development, promoting sustainable growth, fostering peace through mutual trust and cooperation, improving living standards and human capital, as well as fostering social cohesion and participation in an inclusive and sustainable manner," he said.
Mohamad said this in his opening remarks at the 26th ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, held in conjunction with the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) and related meetings here, Thursday.
The meeting was also attended by Japan’s Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, who is the coordinator for the Plus Three countries, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi and South Korea’s First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo.
Mohamad said the APT represents a combined population of 2.28 billion people, with a total nominal GDP of approximately US$29.33 trillion, or 25.77 per cent of global GDP.
He said this scale underscores the strategic weight and global relevance of the partnership, as well as the responsibility it carries in ensuring regional stability, inclusive growth and sustainable development.
Mohamad said ASEAN reaffirms its collective commitment to further deepen APT cooperation as a driving force for peace, stability and prosperity in East Asia.
"Amid complex regional and global developments, the relevance of platforms that advocate dialogue and cooperation, such as this, has never been more evident," he added.
Reflecting on the region’s journey, he said ASEAN and its partners have weathered many challenges over the years by standing together, coordinating responses and enduring adversity.
"As a result, the APT has evolved into one of the region’s most enduring frameworks of cooperation. It is a hallmark of teamwork that is dependable and dynamic and able to navigate complex regional realities.
"It enables us to consult, coordinate and cooperate not only in times of crisis, but also in our collective pursuit of sustained peace, inclusive growth and shared resilience in East Asia," he added.
Mohamad also welcomed recent encouraging developments including the endorsement of the Rapid Financing Facility (RFF) under the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralisation (CMIM) and the momentum generated by the leaders’ statements on the Electric Vehicle Ecosystem (2023) and on Strengthening Regional Supply Chain Connectivity (2024).
"These are not isolated achievements. They demonstrate the APT’s capacity to create value, respond with agility and lead with foresight," he said.
-- BERNAMA
