KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia boldly tackled the challenges brought about by a health pandemic in hosting and concluding its year-long Apec chairmanship with a strong pledge towards free, open and non-discriminatory trade and investment.

The vital clarion call to the 21-member economies made via webcam to webcam in the regional economic forum that ended yesterday is much more needed now that ever amid the common interest in safeguarding lives and livelihoods against Covid-19.