PUTRAJAYA, April 14 -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said discussions at the Asean Finance Ministers' meeting focused on regional issues that the bloc can directly address, rather than global conflicts.

He explained that the finance leaders from Asean countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, and Singapore agreed that regional progress must be built on a clear vision and strong leadership to ensure that Southeast Asia remains a peaceful zone.

"Conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine war or economic tensions between the United States and China are beyond our control.

"Therefore, attention is directed towards matters that are within reach. The Asean finance ministers' meeting recognised that progress must be built upon a clear vision...