1. The Fourth ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) Troika Open-ended Dialogue with Switzerland was held on 26 September 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Consultation was co-chaired by H.E. Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Aziz, Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry of Malaysia, and H.E. State Secretary Helene Budliger Artieda, Director of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs of Switzerland.

2. The Meeting exchanged views on regional and global economic challenges including the current global trade tensions which have caused uncertainty, impacted supply chain resiliency, and brought significant challenges to businesses, especially micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), as well as to global trade dynamics. Amidst this backdrop, the Meeting reaffirmed its commitment to upholding a predictable, transparent, free, fair, inclusive, sustainable, and rules-based multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) at its core. The Meeting underscored the importance of fostering closer economic cooperation between ASEAN and Switzerland to mitigate the impacts and to refrain from imposing unilateral measures that could heighten uncertainties and exacerbate global economic challenges.

Download the full statement here.