UK adn Malaysia Forge Stronger AI Partnership at Landmark ASEAN Summit
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – A three-day summit focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI) collaboration between the UK and ASEAN nations has opened in Malaysia, marking a significant step in the UK’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific region. The event, the largest of its kind hosted by the UK during its ASEAN Chair year, underscores the UK’s ambition to elevate its AI partnership with Malaysia and the wider ASEAN region as a catalyst for economic growth.
The summit was officially launched with remarks from Seema Malhotra, UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Malaysia’s Minister of Digital, Gobind Singh Deo, and ASEAN Secretary-General dr. Kao Kim Hourn. Over 120 delegates from government, academia, industry, and civil society are participating, focusing on advancing shared AI priorities and strengthening regional AI ecosystems.
Minister Malhotra emphasized the importance of the partnership, stating, “Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship has set a bold and exciting agenda, putting digital innovation and artificial intelligence at the heart of ASEAN’s growth.ASEAN and the UK can do more together. The UK is committed to being a trusted partner for this region, with many opportunities for research, innovation, and building commercial partnerships that strengthen our economies.”
The summit will explore business and innovation partnerships, facilitating collaboration between UK and ASEAN businesses in AI technology development and implementation.Discussions will also center on leveraging AI to improve the efficiency and accessibility of government and public services across ASEAN, alongside frameworks for ethical AI implementation aligned with the ASEAN Responsible AI Roadmap.
This initiative builds on the UK-Malaysia Strategic Partnership, agreed upon by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in January 2025, with tech and digital innovation as a key pillar.
Minister Gobind Singh Deo echoed the sentiment of collaborative progress, stating, ”Malaysia is building an AI ecosystem that is innovative, trusted, and connected to the region and the world. The challenge before us is not about who reaches the frontier first, but how we get there responsibly, inclusively, and for shared prosperity.malaysia stands ready to partner with the UK to co-innovate, co-invest, and co-lead in the AI era, ensuring that artificial intelligence becomes a true driver of growth for all.”
Minister Malhotra’s visit to Malaysia, Brunei, and Singapore – her first overseas trip since her appointment in september – aims to solidify enduring relationships with these commonwealth partners and fellow members of the CPTPP. During her time in Malaysia, she also held meetings with Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Mohamad bin Alamin and interim Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister, Johari Abdul Ghani, and participated in a climate adaptation project launch and engagement with local university students.
