Kuala lumpur: Malaysia is determined to enhance its role as a leading cultural and artistic hub in the ASEAN region, harnessing art and creative exchange as vital tools for deepening regional ties, promoting people-to-people understanding, and driving socio-economic growth, said the Prime Minister's wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Wan Azizah emphasized the significance of art and culture as reflections of national identity and powerful diplomatic instruments capable of building bridges across borders and fostering lasting regional cooperation. Speaking at the ASEAN-China Art Exchange Exhibition 2025, she noted that cultural exchanges held in conjunction with the ASEAN Summit play a pivotal role in strengthening ties between Southeast Asia and China.
"Chairing ASEAN is our opportunity to steer Southeast Asia towards a future of stability, dynamic growth, and rich cultural exchange. This national undertaking requires a powerful consensus. Let us unite, in our businesses, our communities, and our cultural institutions to provide the active support and collaboration needed to make Malaysia's leadership a resounding success for the entire region," Wan Azizah stated.
She underscored that the exchange of artistic works, facilitated by art spaces created outside the summit venue, can act as a catalyst for promoting international relations. Wan Azizah highlighted the Ministry of Tourism and Culture's concrete steps to support international cultural and arts events, emphasizing the importance of cultivating cultural arts as a tourism resource.
Wan Azizah also praised Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's ongoing efforts to build a "Prosperous Malaysia" through balanced material and spiritual development. She stressed the necessity of grassroots organizations like the Malaysian International Culture and Arts Promotion Association in achieving this vision, which aligns with the people's aspirations for a better life.
The government, she stated, is committed to holistic development under the Malaysia MADANI agenda, with ambitions to position the country as a regional hub for education, logistics, tourism, and increasingly, data and digital services. Wan Azizah emphasized that the government's commitment to all-round development is in line with this agenda, with the Prime Minister set to present the 2026 Budget in Parliament.
Addressing the rapid digital transformation of the 21st century, Wan Azizah cautioned that Malaysia must keep pace with technological advances, including artificial intelligence (AI), to avoid being left behind. She highlighted the distinct nature of art creation, emphasizing that it must possess a soul born from genuine feeling, vulnerability, and personal history, elements that AI cannot replicate.