Malaysia identifies factors for ASEAN to tackle global trade disruption
Speaking at a meeting of foreign ministers from ASEAN ahead the 46th ASEAN Summit in Malaysia,Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan emphasised that ASEAN nations are among those most heavily affected by the US-imposed tariffs.
Kuala Lumpur (VNA)🐎 – Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan has said the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states must accelerate regional economic integration, diversify their markets and stay united to tackle the fallout and global trade disruptions from sweeping US tariff hikes.
Speaking at a meeting of foreign ministers from ASEAN ahead the 46th ASEAN Summit in Malaysia on May 25, Hasan emphasised that ASEAN nations are among those most heavily affected by the US-imposed tariffs.
The US-China trade tension is dramatically disrupting production and trade patterns worldwide. A global economic slowdown is likely to happen.
He said ASEAN countries must seize this moment to deepen regional economic integration, so that they can better shield ASEAN from external shocks.
Hasan said that for ASEAN, unity is now more important than ever because external pressures are rising, and the scope of challenges has never had higher stakes, including the impacts of climate change, disruption from the use of artificial intelligence and other unregulated technologies.
ASEAN countries are reeling from tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. Six of the association’s 10 member states were among the worst-hit with tariffs ranging from 32 to 49%.
In this challenging landscape, the leaders emphasised that ASEAN must reinforce solidarity, assert the value of dialogue, cooperation, and multilateralism, enhance strategic autonomy, and amplify its unified voice in contributing constructively to global processes.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son said the two sides should select annual priority areas that are complementary and aligned with mutual interests, such as trade-investment, connectivity, digital transformation, energy, and the Halal economy.
In his opening speech, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expressed Malaysia’s honour to take the 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship. Noting the significance of 2025 as the 10th founding anniversary of the ASEAN Community, he underscored the summit’s role in shaping the bloc’s future through the adoption of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.
Organised by the Ministry of Culture and the Association of Thai Silk & Culture Promotions, the event honors Her Majesty the Queen on her 47th birthday anniversary and promotes Thai craftsmanship on an international stage.
Prensa Latina's recent article on Vietnam’s assurance of smooth and effective transition to a leaner structure highlighted Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s latest directions on implementing 28 resolutions regarding the decentralisation and delegation of authority.
The lab focuses on four key thematic areas: energy transition and green innovation, sustainable agriculture, circular economy and sustainable cities, and nature-based solutions and biodiversity.
The key content of the document titled "Accelerating Innovative Strategies: Addressing the OOSCY Challenges" will be refined further in a seminar preceding the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur this October.
This follows Telegram’s serious failure to address the content that has been repeatedly reported to them, despite various efforts of negotiation and cooperation made by MCMC, it said.
Efforts to empower women must transcend dialogue and translate into concrete commitments, including corporate pledges and government partnerships, according to the spouse of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
The forum featured two in-depth discussion sessions, engaging representatives from governments, think tanks, and businesses from both ASEAN and China, on how to forge closer ties for a common future.
The new FIFA Hub in Jakarta will not only support football development in Indonesia but also serve as a coordination centre for 21 football associations across Southeast and East Asia.
Minister Counselor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen reaffirmed Vietnam’s principled and consistent stance on the Palestine issue, calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire across the entire Gaza Strip.
PM Anwar Ibrahim affirmed the determination of Malaysia, as ASEAN Chair for 2025, to utilise all viable regional mechanisms of the bloc and work with partners to de-escalate violence and restore a peace process led by Myanmar.
Talking to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Vietnam’s Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925–2025), Nikulina, who is also a veteran journalist of Russia’s Sputnik News, emphasised the vital role of mainstream journalism in defending the truth and maintaining public trust.
The Ministry of Commerce reported that imports also rose 18% to 29.9 billion USD during the same period, resulting in a trade surplus of 1.1 billion USD. In May alone, Thailand posted a 4.6 billion USD trade surplus with the US and a 4.1 billion USD trade deficit with China.
The World Bank will provide a 2.1 billion USD financing package for Indonesia, focusing oncreating jobs, stimulating economic growth, and enhancing access to clean energy across the country.
Member states also reviewed progress on six priority areas for 2025, including the development of an underground cable framework, the follow-up agreement to the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA), the launch of the ASEAN Energy Efficiency Database, and the rollout of an investment platform for sustainable building initiatives.
In March, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra met with Formula 1 chief Stefano Domenicali and said Thailand would commission a feasibility study into hosting a Grand Prix on a Bangkok street circuit from 2028.
The proposed giant sea wall aligns with bilateral cooperation and has been designated a national priority, considering that several regions in Indonesia are experiencing land subsidence of 10–15 centimetres per year.
International flights were cancelled including Jetstar and Virgin Australia flights to cities across Australia, and flights of Air India, Air New Zealand, Singapore's TigerAir and China's Juneyao Airlines.
The partnership aims to strengthen collaboration in the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources, including gold, copper, and manganese, as well as in the development of steel, aluminum, and renewable energy industries.
