KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today said that Asean Plus Three (APT) partnership has evolved into a mature and resilient regional mechanism, with plans to bolster joint preparedness for future emergencies, including public health crises.
He said the dialogue, established more than three decades ago and formalised in the aftermath of the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, has since played a critical role in fostering regional cooperation and resilience through multiple challenges, including the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The Asean Plus Three experience demonstrates that shared challenges can become sources of strength. In this light, we must intensify our engagement and cooperation, as these remain vital to maintaining stability.
“We should also move forward with the establishment of the proposed Asean Plus Three Reserve of Medical Supplies for Public Health Emergencies (APTRMS) to ensure better preparedness for future health crises,” he said during his opening remarks of Asean Plus Three APT Summit here today.
Anwar said regional cooperation must also focus on ensuring that growth is equitable and inclusive, so that prosperity is shared across all segments of society.
He said it was essential to prepare the region’s youth and women for a sustainable, inclusive and interconnected East Asia.
The prime minister also added that Malaysia looks forward to continued constructive engagement under the APT framework, with the aim of keeping East Asia a cradle of stability, opportunity and hope.
The APT comprises the Asean member states together with the People’s Republic of China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea.
Established in December 1997, the APT cooperation process has since evolved into the primary platform for promoting East Asian collaboration, with the long-term goal of building an East Asian Community and Asean serving as the driving force.
