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GYEONGJU (SOUTH KOREA): Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies have been urged to translate the Putrajaya Vision 2040 into targeted and practical cooperation that reflects shared goals and different levels of readiness, especially in addressing the digital divide and transformation.
Speaking at the APEC Ministerial Meeting (AMM) here, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said APEC, which comprises 21 economies, must first accelerate green digitalisation by creating energy-efficient digital infrastructure aligned with net-zero ambitions and climate resilience.
"Secondly, we need to cut down on inconsistent regulation and high compliance costs. APEC should develop basic AI guidelines, with transparency checklists and self-assessment tools, to encourage responsible and ethical use of AI.
"Third, we must build confidence in cross-border data governance through clear regulations, capacity building, and trust-based frameworks," said Mohamad during Malaysia's intervention at the meeting.
Also present was Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
In 2020, APEC launched Putrajaya Vision 2040, a new long-term blueprint that aspires for an open, dynamic, resilient and peaceful Asia-Pacific community by 2040.
To this end, Mohamad said Malaysia is ready to contribute, through the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme, a platform which has trained over 38,000 participants from 144 countries.
"Under this programme, we can host targeted workshops and policy exchanges, focusing on privacy governance, data protection readiness, and responsible AI ethics. This would strengthen the Asia-Pacific's ability to build a trusted and effective digital ecosystem," he said.
Mohamad also pointed out that as the region faces complex transitions in technology, digital cooperation is the bridge for member economies, and Malaysia stands ready to partner with APEC economies.
Malaysia is among the 12 founding members of APEC. The others are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and the United States.
APEC is home to close to three billion people and represents approximately 62% of the world's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 48% of world trade in 2021. - Bernama
