Start Date
Oct 27, 2025 at 10:45 AM
End Date
Oct 27, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Location
Malaysia
Venue
Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC)
The East Asia Business Council (EABC) was granted an audience with the ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Leaders during the 28th APT Summit, held on October 27, 2025, at 10.55am at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), Malaysia.
The Summit, led by Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, brought together Leaders from all ten ASEAN Member States, China, Japan, and South Korea, as well as the ASEAN Secretary-General. The EABC delegation was headed by EABC Chair 2025, Tan Sri Azman Hashim, and Co-Chair 2025, Mr. Ren Hongbin [Chairman of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and China Chamber of International Commerce (CCOIC)], supported by EABC Malaysia Member Tan Sri Dato’ Soh Thian Lai.
The outcomes of the EABC–JETRO survey, based on responses from over 500 companies, were shared, highlighting persistent regional trade and investment challenges. Four key recommendations were identified based on the outcome of the survey:
1. Enhance Supply Chain Resilience
Establish an East Asia Supply Chain Council for government-business collaboration on risk monitoring, logistics, and digitalisation.
2. Integrate MSMEs
Create an APT Coordination Committee on MSMEs to align support programs, helping small firms scale up and integrate into regional value chains.
3. Speed Up Digital Trade
Adopt fully electronic Certificates of Origin in a common format to cut paperwork, reduce clearance times, and improve transparency.
4. Improve Market Access
Expand the ASEAN Tariff Finder to cover all RCEP partners to provide businesses with easy access to accurate tariff information for better trade and investment planning.
The consultation adjourned at 11.27am.
Delegation list:
1. EABC Chair Tan Sri Azman Hashim (Malaysia)
2. EABC Co-Chair Mr Ren Hongbin (China)
3. EABC Malaysia representative Tan Sri Dato' Soh Thian Lai
