PUTRAJAYA: Asean must have a unified voice and approach regarding US tariffs, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister then added that it is important for Asean to work together on this issue.
"Before the Asean Summit, Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz invited Asean counterparts for a meeting. The conference between Asean trade and investment ministers focused on maintaining bilateral ties with the US.
"This provided us the opportunity to develop a common approach to these challenges," he said during the Finance Ministry's monthly morning assembly on Monday (April 14).
He highlighted that Asean represents one of the world's largest economies and is one of the most peaceful regions globally.
"We also have some of the fastest-growing economies in the world. With these strengths, no global power can overlook or sideline Asean," he said.
He added that the recent meeting of Asean trade and investment ministers yielded a positive outcome.
This provided Asean with a mandate to work towards a common approach and will give Asean several policy frameworks to present as one team with a unified stance," he added.
Anwar acknowledged that issues such as the Russia-Ukraine war or US-China economic tensions are beyond Asean's control.
Therefore, he urged Asean to focus on matters within its capabilities.
"The Asean finance ministers meeting recognised that progress must be built with a clear vision and strong leadership to maintain the region as a zone of peace, free from major power rivalries," he said, adding that this approach is guided by Asean's concept of neutrality.
With over 670mil people, Asean, with its 10 member states, is the third-largest economy in Asia and the fifth-largest in the world.
