Malaysia has revived trade negotiations with the European Union (EU) after more than a decade, said Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz.

He said the move marks a renewed effort to strengthen ties with one of its largest trading partners outside Asia.

“EU is one. We’ve resumed the negotiation, which was stopped in 2012. Last year, we resumed the negotiation. Officially, we started this year,” he said in an interview with CNBC’s Squawk Box Asia.

He said the renewed talks come as Malaysia pursues a broader diversification strategy, with trade agreements also being advanced with Gulf states, South Korea, India, and China.

• New Straits Times