KUALA LUMPUR: East Asia nations must uphold openness and cooperation to safeguard regional growth to “resist protectionism and keep economic issues depoliticised”, says Chinese Premier Li Qiang (pic).
The region’s past economic miracles, he said, were built on openness and collective resilience – values he urged member states to preserve amid global uncertainty.
“East Asia has created one economic miracle after another,” he said.
He recalled how Japan’s post-war boom, the rise of the Four Asian Tigers – South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore – and later, the rapid growth of China and South-East Asia, had collectively reshaped the global economy.
“Our modern cities rose from the ground, and our societies were transformed. These achievements remain a source of pride for all of us,” he said at the 28th Asean Plus Three Summit.
Asean Plus Three is a cooperative framework made up of Asean member states and partners China, Japan and South Korea to advance regional cooperation in trade, finance and security.
Li, however, warned that the global environment today was far more complex and unstable, pointing to “high tariffs” and external disruptions undermining confidence and supply chain stability.
“It was because we insisted on openness and cooperation that we could transcend differences in our systems, avoid politicising economic problems and keep our growth steady.
“Openness and cooperation are precious common experiences we must cherish and uphold. They should remain East Asia’s most distinctive advantage,” he said.
Li said the centre of global growth was now shifting towards Asia – and within Asia, to East Asia – making it even more crucial for regional economies to stay united and pragmatic.
“China stands ready to align its development strategies with all partners, strengthen connectivity and create a new and brighter future for East Asia,” he said.
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, meanwhile, urged deeper cooperation to confront new regional threats, ranging from economic fragmentation to transnational crime.
“After 30 years, we face new challenges such as protectionism and the reconfiguration of global supply chains.
“In this context, strengthening intra-regional economic and financial cooperation at this Asean Plus Three Summit is very timely,” he said.
Lee also warned that organised crime networks including cross-border scam operations, were undermining public safety across the region.
“Transnational crime is threatening the safety and daily lives of many people. We will continue to work closely with Asean to strengthen our response systems and eradicate these criminal networks,” he said
Lee added that Asean Plus Three, which now accounts for about 30% of the world’s population and a quarter of global economic activity, must play a leading role in achieving the Asean Community Vision 2045 and sustaining East Asia’s peace and prosperity.
Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi echoed the call for regional solidarity and emphasised Japan’s long-standing role in strengthening East Asia’s financial safety nets.
He recalled that the Asean Plus Three framework was born in Kuala Lumpur in 1997 in response to the Asian Financial Crisis, and reaffirmed Japan’s leadership in the Chiang Mai Initiative and the Emergency Financing Facility, that was established in May.
