ASEAN-China Cooperation To Enhance Regional Competitiveness, Says Diplomat
By Choi Wen Feei
SHENYANG (China), June 16 (Bernama) -- ASEAN and China should work more closely to build a future-oriented economic partnership, including deepening cooperation in several key areas that will shape the competitiveness of the region in the years ahead.
Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Malaysia in Beijing, Norfarina Mohd Azmee, said that these areas include digital economy, green development, advanced manufacturing, connectivity, supply chain resilience, artificial intelligence (AI), e-commerce, and innovation-driven industries.
She said this was the clear consensus among participants at the recent China-ASEAN Media Forum 2026, adding that Malaysia believes that ASEAN-China cooperation must continue to be open, inclusive, and mutually beneficial.
“It should create opportunities not only for large corporations, but also for small and medium enterprises, young entrepreneurs, skilled workers, and local communities.
“Economic cooperation must ultimately deliver tangible benefits to the people of our region,” she said in an interview with Malaysian media at the 2026 ASEAN-China Media Cooperation Forum recently.
Norfarina said as ASEAN-China economic cooperation is entering a new and more mature phase, future development should not be measured solely by trade volume, investment flows, or infrastructure projects, but should place greater emphasis on quality, sustainability, innovation, and shared resilience.
Regarding the ASEAN-China Social Media Content Creators Programme and the 2026 ASEAN-China Youth Cultural Heritage Tour Series that were also launched at the event, Norfarina said the full operational details for Malaysia participants have yet to be released.
She said that the embassy would continue to engage the relevant agencies to obtain further information once the implementation mechanism is finalised.
Meanwhile, Norfarina noted that China is currently the largest source country for international students in Malaysia. Malaysia also leads Southeast Asia in international student enrolment, underscoring its growing appeal as a preferred higher education destination.
Data shows that Chinese student enrolment in Malaysia has continued to grow significantly, from 44,271 students in 2023 to 62,361 in 2025.
As of April 2026, 5,549 Malaysian students were registered with the Embassy of Malaysia in Beijing as being enrolled in higher education institutions across China.
Norfarina said Malaysia and China also continue to strengthen cooperation in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), particularly in talent development, technology transfer, industry-driven training, and international mobility.
“Beyond student training, Malaysia’s collaboration with China also covers educator development, academic excellence, AI-enabled teaching, and digital pedagogy. This reflects the shared commitment of both countries to nurture highly skilled, innovative, and globally competitive talent,” she added.
-- BERNAMA
