Strengthen integration or face disruption, Malaysia’s Tok Mat warns Asean amid global trade and tech wars

Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan called on Asean members to unite and act as a bloc as their countries are among those most heavily affected by the US-imposed tariffs. — Bernama pic

KUALA LUMPUR, May 25 — Asean must urgently strengthen regional economic integration and collective resilience amid intensifying global disruptions, including the United States (US)-China trade war, climate change, and rapid technological shifts, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

He said superpower competition and the resulting shifts in the global order have the potential to disrupt the regional landscape as Asean nations are among those most heavily affected by the US-imposed tariffs.

Mohamad emphasised the need for the bloc to approach the issue as a collective and take on an active role in weathering the turbulence of coming years.

“We must seize this moment to deepen regional economic integration so that we can better shield our region from external shocks.

“As we advance our community-building efforts, we must confront the reality, that reducing the income disparities within Asean must be viewed as a priority,” he said during the opening remarks at the Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) today. — Bernama