GYEONGJU, Oct 30 — Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) members have been urged to translate the Putrajaya Vision 2040 into a targeted, practical cooperation that reflects shared goals and different levels of preparedness, especially in addressing the digital divide and transformation, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
Speaking at the APEC Ministerial Meeting (AMM) here, he said APEC, which comprises 21 economies, must first accelerate green digitalisation by creating energy-efficient digital infrastructure aligned with net-zero ambitions and climate resilience.
“Second, we must cut down on inconsistent regulation and high compliance costs. APEC should develop basic AI guidelines, with transparency checklists and self-assessment tools, to encourage responsible and ethical use of AI.
“Third, we must build confidence in cross-border data governance through clear regulations, capacity building, and trust-based frameworks,” said Mohamad during Malaysia’s intervention at the meeting.
Also present was Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
In 2020, APEC launched Putrajaya Vision 2040, a blueprint that aspires towards an open, dynamic, resilient and peaceful Asia-Pacific community by 2040.
To this end, Mohamad said Malaysia is ready to contribute through the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP), a platform that has trained over 38,000 participants from 144 countries.
“Under this programme, we can host targeted workshops and policy exchanges, focusing on privacy governance, data protection readiness, and responsible AI ethics. This would strengthen the Asia-Pacific’s ability to build a trusted and effective digital ecosystem,” he said.
Mohamad also pointed out that as the region faces complex transitions in technology, digital cooperation is the bridge for APEC members, and Malaysia stands ready to partner with APEC economies.
Malaysia is among APEC’s 12 founding members, the rest being Australia, Brunei, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and the United States.
APEC is home to nearly three billion people, representing about 62 per cent of the world’s GDP and 48 per cent of world trade in 2021.
