Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim delivers his speech during the ASEAN Investment Conference 2025 in Kuala Lumpur on April 8, 2025. (CFP Photo)
The two-day ASEAN Investment Conference (AIC) 2025 concluded in Kuala Lumpur on the afternoon of April 9, aiming to promote inclusive and resilient growth in Southeast Asia amid the tariffs imposed by the US.
During his keynote address on April 8, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim noted that globalization, once thought to be advancing, now appears to be in retreat with a resurgence of protectionism, reconfiguration of supply chains, and increasing references to multilateralism as a concept of the past.
The Prime Minister further pointed out that in this environment, ASEAN stands out as a beacon of hope and positivity, as the bloc remains broadly committed to openness, cooperation, and institutional continuity.
As the ASEAN Chair in 2025, Malaysia seeks to unify regional efforts in addressing the fallout from US tariffs, facilitating intra-ASEAN trade, and boosting sector-specific growth in emerging areas such as green energy and AI.
A clear signal has been sent to the world that ASEAN remains committed to upgrading existing free trade agreements (FTAs) to ensure these pacts stay relevant and effective.
Specifically, ASEAN is working towards signing the upgraded ASEAN-China FTA 3.0 and finalizing the review of the ASEAN-India Trade and Goods Agreement later this year. The upgraded version of the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area deal is expected to be unveiled in late April this year.
Notably, ASEAN + 3 (China, Japan, and South Korea) was a focal point of the conference on April 9, with three events covering perspectives on trade and investment opportunities within ASEAN + 3, as well as the role of development banks in catalyzing sustainable investment in the region.
Themed "Connecting Capital, Unlocking Opportunities, and Driving Sustainability," the conference gathered over 700 policymakers, opinion leaders, investors, bankers, and capital market players to align regional strategies, mobilize capital, and map out a more connected future.
Reporter | Zhang Ruijun
Editor | Yuan Zixiang, James, Shen He
