Prosperity on pause: How US tariff aggression threatens Asean’s unity
ASEAN has long envisioned a future of shared prosperity built on interconnected supply chains, labour markets and sectoral linkages.
Tech diplomacy: Forging the China-Malaysia semiconductor alliance
THE surge in global demand for semiconductors, due largely to developments in artificial intelligence (AI) and electric vehicles, has accelerated Malaysia's cooperation with Chinese firms while luring a wide range of international investors to expand and upgrade its semiconductor ecosystem.
Golden era, human touch: embedding corporate humanistic responsibility in Malaysia-China development
As Malaysia and China mark a diplomatic anniversary, optimism for a new "Golden 50 Years" is driven by joint ventures under China's Belt and Road Initiative. These projects, from railways to digital highways, will catalyse economic growth and reduce poverty.
Greening Asean’s future: Workforce lessons from Malaysia and China
IN AN era where sustainability is a global imperative, Asean's green transition depends on human capital. While technology and policy often dominate discussions, it is ultimately the workforce equipped with green skills and a sustainability mindset that drives real change.
China’s shared prosperity: A balance between regulation and innovation
CHINA'S initial pursuit of shared prosperity, aimed at addressing inequality and encouraging shared development, has produced diverging outcomes.
Bridging borders: How visa-free travel strengthens Asean-China relations
THE recent wave of visa-free travel agreements between China and several Asean countries has significantly enhanced regional connectivity. These agreements are more than just tourism boosters; they foster friendships and business partnerships among people from different countries.
China’s global development initiative — partnership, power, and the path ahead
When China's President Xi Jinping announced the Global Development Initiative (GDI) at the United Nations in September 2021, reactions were split.
From capital to connectivity: Key enablers of shared prosperity in China-Malaysia partnership
SHARED prosperity does not emerge by chance. It is shaped by deliberate choices, strategic partnerships and the ability to turn capital into capabilities and connectivity into opportunities.
ECRL a model project of China-Malaysia cooperation under Belt & Road Initiative
THE East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project, a steel dragon winding through Peninsular Malaysia, is not only a milestone in Malaysia's infrastructure development but also a shining example of deep and strategic cooperation with China under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
China-Asean trade: A missed tech opportunity
CHINA'S growing trade and investment footprint in Southeast Asia has served as a key economic engine for Asean member states.
Regulating online fraud: Malaysia's OSB vs China’s approach
INITIATED in the 2010s, China's Digital Silk Road (DSR) aims to enhance digital connectivity across nations through infrastructure, trade, finance, people-to-people exchanges and policy coordination.
Asean–China economic ties through the lens of ACFTA
The current wave of economic fragmentation, characterised by geopolitical uncertainties, regionalised trade blocs, localised supply chains, and tariff wars, challenges the future of global trade and economic integration. Underscoring this challenge, the World Bank has forecast a subdued global growth rate of just 2.3% for 2025, significantly below the pre-pandemic average of 3.7%.
