KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has reaffirmed Malaysia’s commitment to balanced engagement with the world’s major powers.
He said the country will continue strengthening relations with both the United States and China while maintaining Asean’s centrality.
Anwar said he had a fruitful meeting with US President Donald Trump earlier in the day.
“We had an excellent, fruitful meeting with President Donald Trump. I was fully briefed, and the exchanges were useful,” he said.
He added that the discussion allowed Malaysia to raise key issues of regional and global concern.
“It allowed me to raise some very pertinent questions on multilateralism, the need to maintain the centrality of Asean, and for Malaysia to engage with both the West and the East, to strengthen investment and trade relations with the US, and at the same time forge a very strong alliance with China,” he said at the Bloomberg Business Summit today.
Anwar said he also took the opportunity to explain Malaysia’s position on humanitarian issues.
“I could share with him, frankly, some of the issues, and explain why the situation, for example in Gaza, is very painful and has far-reaching ramifications throughout the world, particularly in this region,” he said.
Describing the bilateral meeting as positive, Anwar said they managed to resolve most of the issues.
The prime minister added that the nation is politically stable and moving forward with clear and coherent policies.
He said good governance remains fundamental to sustaining economic growth.
“Most economists at least want to talk about economic fundamentals.
“But to me, without good governance, economic fundamentals don’t work,” he said.
Anwar added that Malaysia’s social and economic policies are needs-based, not race-based.
“We are shifting from the conventional notion of economic policy, which places too much emphasis on racial composition, to a policy based on needs.
“For social mobility, this means supporting those who require the necessary assistance,” he said.
On Malaysia’s global trade strategy, Anwar said the country would continue expanding its partnerships.
“If you talk about economic fundamentals, as a trading nation we need to explore new markets.
“Traditionally, trade and investment have been with the US. We will continue to do that, but at the same time we have seen a phenomenal increase in trade and investment with China,” he said.
He added that Malaysia is also exploring markets in Canada, Africa and Latin America.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
