KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 5 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia closed lower on Friday amid mixed regional market performance as investors turned cautious over a possible rate hike by the Bank of Japan (BOJ) and upcoming US economic data that may influence the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) interest rate decision next week. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) pared most earlier losses to settle 4.55 points easier, or 0.28 per cent, to 1,616.52 from Thursday’s close of 1,621.07. The benchmark index, which opened 0.37 of-a-point lower at 1,620.70, moved between 1,609.67 and 1,621.25 throughout the day. The broader market was negative, with decliners outpacing advancers 604 to 439. A total of 550 counters were unchanged, 1,151 untraded, and 18 suspended. Turnover declined to 3.17 billion units worth RM2.24 billion from 4.48 billion units worth RM2.75 billion yesterday. Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd vice-presiden...
Asean and China have officially signed the Asean-China Free Trade Area 3.0 (ACFTA 3.0), marking a major milestone in bilateral trade relations between the regional bloc and the world’s second-largest economy.
The signing ceremony took place on the final day of the 47th Asean Summit and Related Summits, witnessed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Chinese Premier Li Qiang. The agreement was signed by Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz and China’s Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao.
Expanding a Two-Decade Partnership
The ACFTA 3.0 builds on more than 20 years of cooperation under the Asean-China Free Trade Area framework. The original ACFTA agreement was inked in 2002 and fully implemented in 2010, making it the first FTA established between Asean and an external partner.
Since then, the pact has been a cornerstone for trade growth, investment flows, and closer economic integration between Asean and China — now one of the bloc’s largest trading partners.
Key Upgrades in ACFTA 3.0
The upgraded ACFTA 3.0 Protocol expands the scope of cooperation beyond traditional goods and services, incorporating new priority areas to reflect emerging economic trends:
Digital economy – fostering digital trade, e-commerce, and technology-driven growth.
Green economy – promoting sustainability and low-carbon development.
Supply chain resilience – strengthening regional production networks and logistics capabilities.
Competition and consumer protection – enhancing market fairness and regulatory alignment.
Support for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) – enabling inclusive growth across member economies.
Strategic Significance
The ACFTA 3.0 upgrade underscores both sides’ commitment to an open, rules-based multilateral trading system, while reinforcing Asean’s central role in regional economic architecture.
Analysts view the agreement as a step toward deepening trade connectivity, encouraging investment diversification, and mitigating global supply chain disruptions, particularly amid shifting geopolitical dynamics.
With the new protocol, Asean and China are expected to further boost cross-border trade, digital transformation, and green investment, paving the way for a more resilient and future-ready regional economy.
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