Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
SINGAPORE, June 1 (Xinhua) — Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said here Saturday that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is committed to promoting open and fair trade while recognizing the potential risks associated with global fragmentation.
In a special speech at the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue Security Conference, he noted that maintaining ASEAN’s autonomy is “not about resisting others” but “about strengthening ourselves.”
The same spirit underpinned the statement by ASEAN leaders on global economic and trade uncertainty at the Kuala Lumpur summit earlier this week, Ibrahim said, adding that summit participants warned “of the dangers of unilateral action, equivalent tariffs and the growing risk of global fragmentation.”
“We reaffirmed ASEAN’s commitment to an open, predictable and rules-based trading system,” the prime minister said, adding that “open markets create the kind of interdependence between countries that encourages prudence rather than confrontation.”
Economic openness is a source of balance both between and within countries, allowing us to address pressing issues affecting the population, such as poverty, social inequality or even the digital divide, said A. Ibrahim.
This year’s Shangri-La Dialogue conference, which runs from Friday to Sunday, is attended by representatives from 47 countries, including 40 ministerial-level delegates, 20 chiefs of defence delegates, more than 20 senior defence officials and eminent academics, according to Singapore’s Ministry of Defence. -0-