KUALA LUMPUR: Asean has called for the establishment of the proposed Asean Plus Three (APT) Reserve of Medical Supplies for Public Health Emergencies (APTRMS) to ensure the region is better prepared for future health crises.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, chairing the APT Summit, said the initiative would strengthen APT’s collective resilience and ability to respond swiftly to public health challenges.
The APTRMS is a proposed regional stockpile of essential medical supplies jointly developed by Asean and its Plus Three partners — China, Japan and South Korea.
It aims to serve as a mechanism for a swift and coordinated response to the emergency needs of member states during public health crises, such as the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We initiated the APT more than three decades ago to establish enduring frameworks for dialogue and cooperation.
“Born in the wake of the Asian Financial Crisis in 1996, the APT has prevailed over other crises such as the 2008 financial crisis and, most recently, the Covid-19 pandemic.
“These achievements form a strong foundation that has enabled the APT to mature, and we must double down on engagement and cooperation, which remain the key to stability,” he said.
The prime minister also said the grouping’s mission remains clear: to ensure that growth is fair, prosperity is widely shared, and progress continues to bring peace to the region.
He underscored the importance of preparing future generations, particularly youth and women, to thrive in an East Asia that is sustainable, inclusive and interconnected.
“We must prepare our youth and women for an East Asia region that is sustainable, inclusive and interconnected,” he said.
Anwar also expressed hopes for constructive engagement among APT members to shape a future where East Asia continues to be a cradle of stability, opportunity and hope.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
