Hangzhou, 24 September 2026 – Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has used his keynote address at the Global Digital Trade Expo to argue that artificial intelligence and cross-border commerce must widen opportunity for developing economies rather than deepen dependence on technology designed elsewhere. The delivered speech adds a policy message to Malaysia’s expo participation: the country wants productivity gains and open digital trade, but not at the expense of inclusion or human oversight.
At the opening ceremony of the fifth expo, Anwar called for an ethics-driven approach to AI and a more open, rules-based digital trade system. He pointed to China’s technological advances and its potential to share capabilities with the Global South. The event, officiated by Premier Li Qiang in Hangzhou, is a major showcase for digital-economy businesses. The remarks are a statement of direction, not a signed agreement or a new binding trade rule.
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