Kuala lumpur: Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced on Friday that Malaysia will host the 47th ASEAN Summit and associated summits in October 2025, welcoming heads of state from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Dialogue Partners.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Ibrahim made the announcement during a speech at the 58th ASEAN Day celebration in Kuala Lumpur, where he highlighted positive indications of attendance from world leaders at the upcoming summit. Among the leaders expected to attend are US President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Ibrahim noted that Malaysia is in the final phase of its ASEAN presidency before it will be handed over to Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos. He stressed the significance of the summit in addressing crucial economic and trade matters, including cross-border investment and energy networks, while also tackling challenges faced by member states.
On regional issues, Ibrahim expressed Malaysia's willingness to mediate tensions on the Cambodian-Thai border, advocating for peaceful dialogue over provocation. He also reaffirmed Malaysia's dedication to resolving the crisis in Myanmar by engaging with involved parties and pushing for the "Five-Point Principle" to be fully implemented. This principle calls for an end to violence, initiation of dialogue, humanitarian aid, an ASEAN Special Envoy appointment, and coordination of the envoy's visit to Myanmar.
The theme for the ASEAN Day celebration, "Towards an Inclusive and Sustainable ASEAN Future," reflects Malaysia's commitment to fostering inclusiveness and sustainability in the region as ASEAN continues to enhance cooperation and strengthen relations among member states.
ASEAN, established in 1967, includes Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia, aiming to promote economic, political, and social integration as well as peace and stability in the region. The summit will see participation not only from ASEAN members but also from non-ASEAN dialogue partners such as the US, China, Japan, India, Australia, South Korea, New Zealand, Russia, and Canada, all working towards regional stability and economic cooperation initiatives.