Inspired by the region's economic boom, Mandela sought greater economic relations with East Asia, in particular with Malaysia, although this was prevented by the 1997 Asian financial crisis.
受该地区经济繁荣的启示，曼德拉寻求与以马来西亚为主的东亚国家建立更紧密的经济合作关系，但这因1997年亚洲金融危机而告吹。