KUALA LUMPUR, June 19 (Xinhua) -- International trade must be governed by transparent rules and legal predictability, not by unilateralism or coercive economic measures, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said here on Thursday.
In his keynote speech at the 38th Asia-Pacific Roundtable (APR) held in Kuala Lumpur, Anwar said that strengthening multilateralism through ASEAN and engaging with a diverse range of partners, such as China, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and BRICS, will help countries seeking constructive cooperation to weather the storm of geopolitical tensions.
"The imposition of unilateral tariffs by the U.S. is a significant challenge to our nation and the region as we are deeply plugged into global supply chains. International trade must be governed by transparent rules and legal predictability, not by unilateralism or coercive economic measures," he said.
"Malaysia's strategy of active non-alignment is a deliberate and principled framework, designed to maximize strategic flexibility, preserve decision-making autonomy, and engage all partners on our own terms... Malaysia has reached out to like-minded partners in the Global South to bridge regions, build collective resolve and promote shared prosperity," he added.
Anwar also stressed the importance of avoiding bloc confrontation, emphasizing that dialogue and engagement are the only ways to ensure continued economic growth and stable relations between nations.
"The future of this region lies not in hardened blocs or fragile balances, but in a security architecture that is inclusive, predictable, and anchored in rules, one in which active non-alignment is not merely tolerated but enabled to thrive," he said.
The APR, which runs from June 17 to June 19, is the signature international conference of the Institute of Strategic and International Studies Malaysia. ■
