Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad at the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit 2019 in Bangkok on November 2 (Photo: WATN)

He made the remark while addressing the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit 2019 in Bangkok on November 2, which was part ofthe ongoing 35th ASEAN Summit.

According to him, ASEAN is not making full useof a combined population of some 650 million. Meanwhile, China achieved asignificant growth during the past four decades as the country made full use ofits large population as a huge market.

He also called for greater integration and cooperationamong the 10 ASEAN member countries in facing the challenges brought by newtechnology.

PM Mahathir said the 10 countries, each withdifferent ideas and different needs, should overcome their differences. If theydo that, they will be able to benefit from the new technologies, and theireconomies will also grow much faster and maybe they can catch up with some ofthe other developed countries./.VNA