On 5 November 2025, Secretary General Shi Zhongjun of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) was invited to attend the Belt and Road Initiative Caucus for Asia Pacific (BRICAP) Seminar which was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and deliver a keynote speech with the theme “Whither RCEP Amid the Trump Tariff Tumult”. Experts and scholars on international trade and economy from both ASEAN Member States (AMS) and China attended the Seminar for in-depth exchange of views on strengthening regional cooperation.

Shi Zhongjun stated that the unilateralism and unequal tariff policies of the US have essentially transformed the international trade from a rule-based and predictable “win-win game” into a hegemony-based and uncertain “zero-sum game”. This have brought serious and negative impacts on the development of global economy and trade. As the world’s largest free trade agreement, RCEP serves not only as a buffer against the impact of trade protectionism, but also a crucial instrument in advancing open regionalism and economic globalization amid the trend of global trade fragmentation. In order to promote a better implementation and upgrade of the RCEP, all parties should jointly build resilient supply chains, advance regional innovation and transformation and facilitate financial cooperation so as to make greater contributions to building an open world economy and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Representatives all expressed that in the face of the obstruction of global trade, pursuing diversified cooperation will be an effective strategy. President Tan Sri ONG Tee Keat of BRICAP said that American tariff policy has seriously affected most export-oriented ASEAN countries. All members should make full use of multilateral cooperation mechanisms such as RCEP to enhance the resilience of industrial and supply chains, empower the development of small and medium-sized enterprises, and further deepen regional integration. Minister Zheng Xuefang of the Embassy of China to Malaysia said that,  impacted by unilateralism and protectionism on economic and trade development, all parties within the region should build broad consensus, enhance the alignment of development strategies, improve and perfect the international governance system, and promote the quality of regional cooperation.

During his stay in Malaysia, Secretary General Shi met with the leadership of Malaysian counterparts including Malaysia-China Business Council, the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia, and China-Malaysia Cooperation Committee of China-Asia Economic Development Association. Both sides exchanged views on further promoting Malaysia-China as well as ASEAN-China relations, and deepening the integration of regional industrial and supply chains.