Anwar says developing countries should not waste time doing nothing or lamenting over the failure of major countries in not being consistent in supporting the rules-based international order. – Bernama photo
KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 7): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called on emerging economies to realise that their future is not necessarily tied to the dictates of the big powers, be it the United States or China, but rather their own ability to forge new and mutually beneficial economic alliances.
Therefore, he said, they should support new alliances like BRICS and any sort of Third World network arrangements like Asean or even among Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) countries that uphold free and fair trade in line with a rules-based international order.
As middle powers, emerging economies should broaden their horizon and build up their potential, he said during a public lecture on “Power Shift: Strategic Choices For Malaysia and Turkiye” in Ankara today in conjunction with his three-day official visit to the republic starting Tuesday.
“This is not the time to stand apart but work together including the people of Malaysia and Turkiye,” he said.
Anwar said developing countries should not waste time doing nothing or lamenting over the failure of major countries in not being consistent in supporting the rules-based international order.
He pointed out Southeast Asia’s enormous potential to effectively collaborate in trade, investments and all related fields, as well as being open to new markets.
Cognisant of the intense economic and superpower rivalry between the US and China, he said, “we (Southeast Asia and Asia) are realistic enough to navigate wisely, knowing fully well that while the US remains our number one player in terms of investments and trade, China is becoming a very important neighbour.”
“So, we must continue to engage, maintain excellent relations with our emerging neighbour economically and militarily, but we are not oblivious to the fact and events happening in this region,” said Anwar.
In his speech, the Prime Minister also hit out at the sheer hypocrisy and contradictions in terms of what has been pronounced and proclaimed and the actions implemented on the ground, whether in Gaza or Venezuela.
In an apparent reference to the atrocities in Palestine and the recent brazen attack in Caracas by the US, he said that “what the world requires now is a voice of conscience (and) a consistent moral voice.”
Going forward, Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said Malaysia is pursuing a modern economic framework incorporating new technologies and being a “leader in semiconductor data centres in artificial intelligence in our region.” – Bernama
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