Malaysia has called for a strategic convergence between ASEAN and BRICS to build a more resilient global supply chain and a “balanced global order.” Speaking at the BRICS Partners’ Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in India, Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Mohamad Haji Hasan, emphasised that the Global South must transition from “shared concerns to shared solutions.”
Against a backdrop of a “rapidly collapsing” global architecture and destabilized markets, the Minister outlined Malaysia’s vision for a future defined by inclusivity, digital equity, and green finance.
The Minister noted that the world is shifting from efficiency-driven globalisation to resilience-driven regionalisation. He argued that BRICS, representing the world’s most productive economies, is uniquely positioned to forge a supply chain that can withstand geopolitical shocks.
Malaysia urged BRICS to prioritize the flow of cross-investment and intra-trade. Highlighting ASEAN’s role as a neutral, rules-based, and economically dynamic region, the Minister proposed deeper ASEAN-BRICS cooperation to offer investors a stable alternative for diversification.
While acknowledging that AI and fintech are redefining global economies, Malaysia warned that technology without inclusive access would only widen existing inequalities.
“Digital public infrastructure and A.I. are already changing how economies function… but without inclusive access, these technologies will only bridge the gap for some while leaving others further behind,” the Minister cautioned.
Malaysia is seeking deeper cooperation within the BRICS framework on digital governance, specifically in AI ethics, infrastructure, and skills development, to ensure technology benefits are shared evenly across the Global South.
A major highlight of the intervention was the call to move green finance from the “margins to the center” of development planning
As BRICS marks its 20th anniversary, Minister Mohamad Hasan challenged the bloc to define its future direction by building systems that are More Resilient in times of crisis, More Open to innovation and digital transformation and More Collaborative in diplomatic and economic practice.
The Minister reaffirmed Malaysia’s readiness to act as a constructive partner to BRICS. By aligning ASEAN’s neutrality with BRICS’ economic weight, Malaysia aims to support a more balanced global order that prioritizes sustainability and inclusivity for all nations.
