OPENING REMARKS

 

YAB DATO’ SERI ANWAR BIN IBRAHIM

PRIME MINISTER OF MALAYSIA

 

FOR

 

ASEAN-GCC-CHINA ECONOMIC FORUM

OPENING CEREMONY

 

 

27 MAY 2025 | TUESDAY) | 2000 HRS

MANDARIN ORIENTAL, KUALA LUMPUR

 

 

Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh, Salam Sejahtera,

 

1. It is an honour to welcome all of you to Kuala Lumpur, The Fortune ASEAN-GCC-China Economic Forum. This is held in conjunction with the 46th ASEAN Summit and the inaugural ASEAN-GCC-China Summit.
2. So, I must thank Premier Li Qiang, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Deputy Prime Minister and all those present. It is a wonderful evening testimony to the Malaysian position and ASEAN’s position of centrality, of effective engagement, of focusing on economic fundamentals and ensuring that we do whatever is necessary to promote growth in our country, in our region and in the international community.
3. So, I think I’m rather excited this evening because as Premier Li Qiang and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is aware, we have had an extremely successful meeting. The leaders of ASEAN decided and clearly their vision and now tested to resolve all issues, including what was perceived to be a rather contentious one.
4. But we decided that, what is important is a cohesive, strong, independent and fiercely independent ASEAN that would confirm opposition or centrality, they would decide to act, to protect our interests and to promote economy. That’s why we decided to pursue the programme with the GCC. GCC as I’ve said repeatedly in the deliberation this morning, happens to be the Dynamo in the Middle East.
5. The resilience is unprecedented, focusing on the strength that they have energy and embarking on an extremely courageous venture. New technology, digitalization and AI. I salute those who are from GCC who has decided to join us in this venture and work together as a new formidable team.
6. And now we have China. Why China Premier Li Qiang? Because China is an important neighbour of ours, because China has shown that they are prepared to work for peace and development of the region and the world. And because China have taken a position to promote strongly peace and security in this region. And that’s why China, to my mind, is pivotal. Plus the fact that China has proved without doubt the capacity to affect change in the economy and technology in their attempt to showcase with the world that united we stand and we focus on what is important to humanity at large. That is justice, fairness to one and to all. So, thank you, xie xie.

 

7. I’m not giving a speech, because we can listen to Premier Li Qiang after this, because we have a long drawn meetings for the last two days and virtually I’ve said what I wanted. But more pertinent, I tell you we ASEAN and GCC and China could agree to present a joint statement to give broad parameters what good governance is all about, what clarity of economic policies is all about and what championing the rights and the welfare of our ordinary citizens is all about. So, I salute all our leaders of ASEAN, GCC and China.

 

8. We have proven that it could be done. Some might tell you a very contentious issue. We debated for two days and night and finally we are able to resolve. Thank you, Mohamad Hasan and his team, the Foreign Ministry, they had to work very hard. We just read out the statement.

 

9. Premier Li Qiang, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and friends, we have done our part. The political leadership has assured you of stability. Have driven a policy that’s attractive to investments. The clarity of policy that promote new technology that would say that we will do whatever is necessary to promote investments and make our countries attractive to investments.

 

10. Now, we have finished our session at 6:30 today. The ball is yours, the business community, the corporate players, the captors of industry have then to seize the moment and do what is necessary because we have given our support policies, there’s clarity of policies. Now you need to ensure that we benefit from this clear resounding position of the political leadership and clarity of economic policies.

 

11. I look forward to this Fortune ASEAN-GCC-China Economic Summit because we want to see results and it is your duty now to act and ensure that our countries benefit from one another. So much synergy, so much collaboration required and so much hope to fulfil the aspirations of our countries.

Thank you. Xie xie. Shukran.