Building Regional Synergy: The Official Launch of Southeast Asia Advanced Manufacturing & Technology Council

March 26, 2026, Kuala Lumpur —— The "Southeast Asia Advanced Manufacturing & Technology Council（SEAMTC）" and the "China-Malaysia Semiconductor Equipment & Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative Innovation Center" have been officially inaugurated.

The launch of this platform marks a pivotal shift in cooperation between China and Southeast Asia in the semiconductor and advanced manufacturing sectors. It signals a move from project-driven interactions toward a new era of systemic, platform-based, and long-term strategic synergy.

PART 1：From "Cooperation" to "Synergy" – Reconstructing Regional Industrial Logic

The world is currently navigating a new cycle of technological revolution and industrial restructuring:

• Semiconductors and Advanced Manufacturing have become the core of national competitiveness.

• Global Supply Chains are shifting from "efficiency first" to "security + regional synergy."

• Emerging Markets are continuously gaining prominence within the global value chain.

Against this backdrop, China and Southeast Asia are no longer just trading partners; they are becoming an industrial synergy community. With the deepening of RCEP, the advancement of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0, and the upgrading of bilateral cooperation between China and Malaysia:

• Industrial factors are flowing more efficiently.

• Technology transfer paths are becoming clearer.

• The linkage between capital and projects is tightening.

The establishment of this platform is a concentrated reflection of these trends, using Guangdong as a pivot to connect global manufacturing and innovation networks.

Guangdong: The Core Source of China’s Advanced Manufacturing "Going Global"

As China’s powerhouse for advanced manufacturing, Guangdong possesses a world-leading industrial foundation:

• GDP: 14.58 trillion RMB.

• Foreign Trade: 9.49 trillion RMB (ranking 1st in China for 40 consecutive years).

• High-tech Enterprises: Over 75,000.

• Industrial Scope: Covering 31 manufacturing categories and 9 trillion-level industrial clusters.

The "Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou" innovation cluster ranks first globally, forming a complete closed loop from basic research and engineering to full-scale industrialization. While Guangdong serves as the source, Southeast Asia is the key region for absorbing this industrial spillover.

Keynote Insights: Building New Mechanisms for Cross-Border Synergy

01. Director Zhang Junhong: Creating a Two-way Channel for Industrial Cooperation

Mr. Zhang Junhong, Director of the Guangdong Economic and Trade Representative Office in Southeast Asia (Kuala Lumpur), stated: "ASEAN has been Guangdong's largest trading partner for many years. We will further leverage our trade service platform to promote 'high-quality investment in' and 'high-level going out,' facilitating the deep integration of bilateral investment and supply chains." He noted that driven by "New Quality Productive Forces," cooperation will transcend trade to reach higher-level industrial synergy.

02. Professor Wang Han: Supporting Synergy via Technical Frameworks

Professor Wang Han, the Secretary-General of the Guangdong Semiconductor Equipment and Components Society, GDSECS explained: The society has integrated resources from research institutes, universities, and leading enterprises to build a service system covering semiconductor equipment and core components. Moving forward, the focus will be on technical matchmaking, standard systems, and engineer certification to promote the large-scale application of Chinese semiconductor equipment capabilities in Southeast Asia.

03. Ms. Ravenna Chen : Reconstructing the "Go Global" Path through Platforms

Ms. Ravenna Chen, CEO of Intrinsic SEA, stated: "The platform will use Malaysia as a hub to build an advanced manufacturing synergy system for ASEAN. Through supply chain integration, tech transfer, and capital linkage, we aim to implement China’s advanced manufacturing capabilities systematically in the region." She emphasized that the platform is oriented toward long-term operations to form a sustainable cross-border ecosystem.

PART 2: Platform Value – An "Industrial Operating System"

This platform is more than a series of projects; it is a regional "Industrial Operating System" connecting technology, industry, and capital:

1. Supply Chain Synergy Hub: Connecting equipment, materials, manufacturing, and application scenarios to facilitate localized industrial presence.

2. Tech & Standards Framework: Promoting mutual recognition of standards and engineer certifications to create clear paths for international technology transfer.

3. Capital & Project Engine: Planning a $50 million USD industrial fund to support cross-border project incubation and industrialization.

4. Long-cycle Ecosystem: Operating on a 10-year+ cycle to drive the integrated development of "R&D – Production – Service."

PART 3: Why Malaysia? From "Link" to "Hub"

The decision to base the platform in Malaysia is based on strategic advantages:

• Mature Semiconductor Foundation: Long-term presence of international industry leaders.

• Comprehensive Policy Framework: Strong support from agencies like MIDA and MOSTI.

• Strategic Location: Serving as a gateway to major ASEAN economies.

• International Talent Pool: A workforce capable of supporting global standards.

In the context of global supply chain restructuring, Malaysia is evolving from a manufacturing node into a regional industrial hub.

From Connecting the World to Shaping the Future Together

The establishment of this center signifies that the industrial relationship between China and Southeast Asia has evolved from "Connection" to "Co-creation."

In the reshaping of the global industrial landscape, the true opportunities do not lie in isolated projects, but in becoming part of this emerging regional industrial structure.