Key facts
- A senior Malaysian official urged China and ASEAN to evolve beyond a buyer-seller relationship.
- The official spoke at the Asia New Vision Forum Innovation Summit in Singapore.
- Concerns exist in Southeast Asia over trade deficits with China and its manufacturing exports.
A senior Malaysian official stated that China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) need to develop their relationship beyond a simple buyer-seller dynamic. Speaking at the Asia New Vision Forum Innovation Summit in Singapore on Tuesday, the official expressed concerns that the region could become solely a consumer market for Chinese products. This sentiment reflects growing unease in Southeast Asian countries regarding significant trade deficits and the competitive pressure from China's strong manufacturing exports, despite record bilateral trade volumes.