LEADERS at the ASEAN+3 (APT) Summit in Malaysia have called for the rapid establishment of a regional reserve of medical supplies to better prepare the region for future public health emergencies.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, chairing the summit, said the proposed APT Reserve of Medical Supplies for Public Health Emergencies (APTRMS) would strengthen the collective resilience of APT members – comprising ASEAN nations along with China, Japan, and South Korea – and allow a swift, coordinated response during 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,” Anwar said.
He emphasised that regional growth must be fair and inclusive, with particular attention to preparing youth and women for a sustainable, interconnected, and peaceful East Asia.
“We must prepare our youth and women for an East Asia region that is sustainable, inclusive and interconnected,” he said, adding that APT cooperation remains a cornerstone of regional stability, opportunity, and hope.
The summit saw participation from key leaders including Japan’s Foreign Minister and APT Coordinator Motegi Toshimitsu, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, attending for the first time.
Anwar noted that the APT framework, established after the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, has remained one of the most resilient platforms in confronting global challenges.
Trump Praises Malaysia As “A Great, Very Energetic Nation”
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump concluded his two-day visit to Malaysia during the 47th ASEAN Summit, praising the country as “a great, very energetic nation.”
In a post on Truth Social as he departed for Japan, Trump highlighted the signing of significant trade and rare earth agreements with Malaysia, as well as witnessing the historic Kuala Lumpur Peace Agreement between Thailand and Cambodia.
“NO WAR! Millions of lives saved. A true honour to be part of this. Now, on to Japan!!!” he wrote.
Trump’s visit marked his first attendance at an ASEAN leaders’ summit since taking office for a second term in January, making him the third U.S. president to visit Malaysia after Lyndon B. Johnson in 1966 and Barack Obama in 2014 and 2015.- October 27, 2025
