KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 26 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has hailed the Asean-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) 3.0 set to be signed on Tuesday (October 28) as a pivotal milestone that will open a new chapter in Asean's strategic partnership with China and strengthen the region’s collective economic resilience.
He emphasised that the deepening of Asean-China economic cooperation reflects the 11-member bloc's shared commitment to inclusivity and sustainability.
“To strengthen our economic foundation, we are trading more among ourselves, investing more in one another and advancing integration across sectors.
“The upgraded Asean Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) is a decisive step forward,” Anwar said during the 47th Asean Summit (Plenary) and the Handover Ceremony of the Second Protocol to Amend the Asean Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) today.
Also present were Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, European Council President António Costa, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, and Asean heads of state and government.
He noted that the signing of ACFTA 3.0 will mark a new chapter in the regional partnership, demonstrating a shared commitment to fair trade, digital transformation, and sustainable energy.
Beyond the Asean+1 frameworks, Asean is accelerating the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the world’s largest free-trade pact, and Malaysia will host the fifth RCEP Leaders’ Summit tomorrow to give new momentum to its implementation.
Meanwhile, Anwar said Malaysia has had the privilege of chairing Asean this year under the theme 'Inclusivity and Sustainability', noting that this comes at a defining moment as the region confronts mounting challenges from geopolitical uncertainty to growing geoeconomic fragmentation.
Earlier, he officiated at the opening ceremony of the 47th Asean Summit and Related Summits at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, marking the start of three days of high-level meetings under Malaysia’s Asean chairmanship for 2025.
Some 30 leaders and high-ranking officials, including those from the United States, China, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Australia, and Canada will participate in discussions on regional peace, economic resilience, and inclusive growth.
