Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Liew Chin Tong has called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to seriously consider Bangladesh’s inclusion as a member, citing the country’s rising economic potential and strategic importance in the region.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Liew made these remarks during a meeting with a visiting delegation from the National Defence College (NDC) of Bangladesh, led by Major General Md Moshfequr Rahman, in Kuala Lumpur. The deputy minister emphasized the significance of Bangladesh, not only due to the large number of Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia but also because of its economic potential as the world’s 8th most populous nation.
Liew also referred to a keynote address delivered by Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser of the Bangladeshi interim government, at Nikkei’s annual Future of Asia conference in Tokyo. In this address, Yunus reiterated Bangladesh’s interest in joining ASEAN. Liew shared his views on this matter in an official Facebook post, which was later shared by the Bangladesh embassy in Kuala Lumpur.
The deputy minister expressed his hope for stronger economic ties between Malaysia and Bangladesh in the future. He also informed the delegation that he plans to visit Bangladesh at the end of June, underscoring the importance of bilateral relations between the two countries.