Trade must be a bridge, not a barrier. It should allow us to exchange goods, services, and ideas – not to export one society’s preferences as universal truths. Rules and standards do not descend from the heavens; they are shaped by experience, context, and national choices.
In his lecture on Southeast Asia and Europe: Recalibrating the Terms of Engagement at Sorbonne University Paris, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said it was time for Southeast Asia and Europe to redefine the terms of the region’s engagement – as equals, as co-creators, as partners in a world yearning for balance.
For Southeast Asia and Europe to build a meaningful partnership, the economic engagement must be guided by the same principles of security: respect, flexibility and restraint, he said adding that Malaysia welcomed Europe’s engagement and the deepening of its presence in the region, including through its growing ties with ASEAN.
“But as we move forward together, we believe this is the right moment for an open and thoughtful conversation about the terms of our partnership – grounded not in hierarchy, but in mutual respect and understanding.
“To my mind, if Europe is to be a trusted and enduring presence in Asia, it must engage with the region as it truly is – complex, dynamic, and self-aware, “he said.
