Anwar calls for dialogue over coercion at East Asia summit

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told the East Asia summit on Monday that Asia-Pacific leaders must choose dialogue over coercion and cooperation over confrontation, stressing the need for engagement in light of global conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine, North Korea and the sharpened US-China rivalry.

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The East Asiasummit is a regional forum between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and its key regional partners — Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia and the United States — to discuss political, security and economic challenges.

"We continue to advocate for dialogue over coercion...and cooperation over confrontation. We affirm our stand on global peace and security, for multilateralism and international law," Anwar said in his opening remarks.

Anwar added that Asean countries should proceed with a proposal to establish a reserve of medical supplies for public health emergencies.

Brazil President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa attended the summit as Malaysia's guests, in the group's support for expanding trade links, he added.

The summit convened after US President Donald Trump left Malaysia earlier on Monday for Japan, following his participation at Asean's weekend summit meetings. On Sunday, Trump witnessed the signing of several economic agreements with Malaysia, Thailand and Cambodia-part of Washington's push to strengthen trade ties and secure access to critical minerals as it seeks to reduce reliance on China.