Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
30 August 2018
The ASEAN Business Club (ABC) supported the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) in organising a Roundtable Discussion between the Prime Minister of Malaysia, YAB Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and ASEAN Business Leaders at St. Regis, Kuala Lumpur.
Members of the ASEAN Business Club (ABC) attended a luncheon on 30 August 2018 followed by a roundtable discussion with the Prime Minister of Malaysia, YAB Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad held at the St. Regis, Kuala Lumpur.
The ASEAN Business Club supported the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) Malaysia in organising the roundtable discussion. The select group of invited guests were the members of the ABC and the country chairs of the ASEAN-BAC.
The Malaysian Prime Minister enlightened the attendees on the current political standing of Malaysia and emphasised that Malaysia will continue to provide support and play a significant role in the development of trade in ASEAN. Tun Dr. Mahathir also listened to the issues raised by the business leaders attending the Roundtable and agreed to work on the solutions in order to ensure ease of business.
The Prime Minister further said that it is essential to have free trade in the region, but such free trade must also be fair trade between the countries. The Prime Minister explained that it is from this perspective that Malaysia is seeking to renegotiate contractual terms with China on certain projects.
The roundtable discussion, which was moderated by ABC president Tan Sri Dato’ Dr. Munir Majid, also discussed extensively the repercussions of the trade war between the U.S. and China, its impact on ASEAN, ASEAN’s commitments to free trade within the region and the effects of China’s Belt & Road Initiative to ASEAN.
