Kuala lumpur: China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) signed an expanded version of a free trade agreement as the final day of the bloc’s 47th Summit and Related Summits commenced. This significant development was captured in a video posted on Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Facebook account.

According to Anadolu Agency, the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area 3.0 (ACFTA 3.0) aims to bolster regional economic resilience and emphasize the bloc’s commitment to inclusivity and sustainability. Following the signing ceremony, the 28th ASEAN-China Summit took place in Kuala Lumpur.

In his opening remarks, Anwar praised ASEAN’s centrality and the wisdom to maintain friendly relations with all countries, highlighting recent engagements with both the United States and China. He emphasized that this balanced approach fosters trust and facilitates collaborative problem-solving within the region.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang remarked that the upgraded agreement presents a new opportunity to expand and enhance bilateral economic and trade cooperation, as reported by China’s state-run Xinhua news agency.

Additionally, Anwar and Li held a bilateral meeting to discuss trade and investment cooperation, particularly in the automotive and high-technology sectors. During the meeting, Li also conveyed Beijing’s support for peace efforts regarding the Cambodia-Thailand border dispute and its commitment to addressing the ongoing crisis in Myanmar.