Stronger links: Yeoh (left) presenting a token of appreciation to Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing (right). Also present are Dr Wee and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (second from right) at the GCET Summit 2025.
KUALA LUMPUR: The global Chinese diaspora can serve as an important connector in the region’s economic landscape, but that connection must work in both directions, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
“The diaspora is a bridge, but bridges must work both ways. Capital, knowledge, technology and opportunities must be exchanged in ways that uplift local enterprises, promote talent mobility and strengthen regional ecosystems.
“Global Chinese Economic & Technology Summit (GCET) is uniquely positioned to advance this agenda,” the MCA president said.
Dr Wee noted that this year’s GCET comes at a pivotal moment, with rapid technological change, an accelerating green transition and heightened geopolitical uncertainty.
“We are meeting at a time when technology is advancing at unprecedented speed, when the green transition is no longer optional and when geopolitical uncertainty demands clarity, trust and cooperation,” he said in his address at the opening of the Global Chinese Economic and Technology Summit 2025 yesterday.
He said the summit’s agenda was anchored on three strategic pillars: China-Asean economic relations, the digital economy and technological innovation, and the role of the global Chinese diaspora – areas he described as central to understanding how the region will grow over the next decade.
On China-Asean relations, Dr Wee said regional transformation is “deep and enduring”, noting that the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) has created the world’s largest free trade area.
But the real challenge, he said, lies in turning frameworks such as RCEP and the Belt and Road Initiative into tangible benefits for businesses and workers.
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“The question before us is not only how to leverage these frameworks but how to translate them into competitive advantages for our SMEs into stronger and more resilient supply chains and into opportunities for our young people,” he said.
Malaysia, he added, has always prioritised balanced and practical cooperation, with regional stability and economic integration viewed as key to sustaining growth.
“Dialogue like what we have at GCET is essential to keep that cooperative spirit alive,” he said.
Turning to the summit’s second pillar – the digital economy – Dr Wee said advancements in AI, blockchain, 5G and digital finance were reshaping both commerce and international engagement.
“The challenge is to ensure innovation is matched with governance so that progress is inclusive, secure and trusted,” he said.
Malaysia, Dr Wee added, welcomes conversations on regulatory sandboxes, data governance norms, cross-border payments and digital standards that can ease trade and foster confidence in digital transactions.
On the third pillar, Dr Wee said diaspora networks across Asia and beyond have long played a significant role in trade, investment and entrepreneurship, particularly as new technology-driven industries accelerate.
“They bring cultural familiarity, business networks and a proven ability to build trust across borders. As new industries emerge, these networks are becoming even more vital in advancing collaboration, especially in technology-driven and green sectors.”
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This year’s theme, “Global Leadership and Partnership in the Age of Digital and Green Transformation”, reflects the profound shifts shaping our economic future.
To guide the day’s discussions, Dr Wee outlined three practical approaches, which are to be outcome-driven, identifying at least one concrete deliverable from each session; treat conversations as catalysts, using networking and informal exchanges to spark partnerships; and uphold Asean centrality and mutual respect, ensuring cooperation is supported by transparent rules and an appreciation of each country’s development priorities.
Also present were KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific president and GCET 2025 organising chairman Tan Sri Michael Yeoh, China Development Institute president Fan Gang, China Centre for Information Industry Development deputy director general Hou Xue, the Institute of Strategic Analysis and Policy Research and co-organiser of GCET 2025 chairman Datuk Dr Pamela Yong.
