Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Malaysia will capitalise on its ASEAN chairmanship to boost the country’s capacity as an investment, tourism and trade destination, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has said.
Speaking at a press conference after a cabinet retreat, Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, expressed satisfaction with Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship preparations and revealed several proposals to ensure the government could deliver its best while enhancing the country’s image on the global stage.
According to him, Malaysia must grasp the trade potential when assuming the ASEAN chairmanship, especially when this ASEAN Summit will be the first involving the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and China. In addition, Malaysia is committed to organising the ASEAN-US Special Summit to expand the scope of trade cooperation for the bloc’s member countries and Malaysia in particular.
Under the theme ‘Inclusivity and Sustainability’, Malaysia will host over 300 ASEAN-related meetings, programmes, and summits throughout the year. Media companies and major global corporations from Saudi Arabia, China, the US and ASEAN member countries will collaborate with Malaysian government to organise large-scale exhibitions and conferences.
The same day, Anwar affirmed the results of the cabinet retreat, saying efforts to eradicate hardcore poverty will be intensified and pursued more aggressively nationwide. With comprehensive policies and targeted assistance programmes, the government is committed to helping people and offering them opportunities to escape poverty, he said in a Facebook post.
Anwar stressed that the government’s initiatives are not merely about providing temporary assistance but also ensuring that every family has better employment opportunities. He also urged all parties, including the private sector, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and concerned individuals to join hands in this noble endeavour./.
Malaysia to leverage ASEAN’s role in empowering rural development
He said as ASEAN Chair this year, Malaysia will focus on key areas such as digitalisation, increasing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and empowering rural women to ensure the economic benefits are enjoyed by all levels of society, including those living in rural and remote areas.
