ISLAMABAD: Malaysia will play host to the 47th ASEAN Summit and related summits at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), under the theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability” from 26 to 28 October 2025, said a press release issued by the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday.
As chair of ASEAN for the year, Malaysia will bring together regional and global leaders for three days of high-level discussions aimed at advancing regional integration, economic growth, and long-term cooperation.
Series of meetings
The event will encompass a series of meetings including the ASEAN Summit, ASEAN Plus One Summits with seven dialogue partners, Australia, China, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, Russia, and the United States, as well as the ASEAN Plus Three Summit, the East Asia Summit, the ASEAN–United Nations Summit, and the ASEAN–New Zealand Commemorative Summit marking 50 years of dialogue relations.
On the sidelines, Malaysia will also convene the 5th Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Summit and the 3rd Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Leaders’ Meeting.
The opening ceremony on 26 October 2025 will gather all ASEAN leaders, alongside the president and prime minister of Timor-Leste, the guests of the ASEAN chair, and other invited dignitaries, the press release said.
Admission of Timor-Leste into ASEAN
A historic highlight of the ceremony will be the signing of the declaration on the admission of Timor-Leste into ASEAN, officially welcoming the nation as ASEAN’s 11th Member State.
Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim will chair the 47th ASEAN Summit, divided into plenary and retreat sessions.
Plenary session
The plenary session will include participation from the prime minister of Canada, the president of the European Council, and the managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Discussions will center on strengthening the ASEAN Community, deepening regional integration, stimulating economic growth, and enhancing connectivity.
Leaders will also deliberate on ASEAN unity, centrality, and the importance of a rules-based multilateral order.
Canada and the EU will share perspectives on their partnership with ASEAN, while the IMF will brief leaders on global macroeconomic trends and ASEAN’s policy outlook, the press release said.
Retreat session
In the retreat session, ASEAN leaders will review the implementation of the five-point consensus on Myanmar, discussing steps forward to address the ongoing political and humanitarian crisis, alongside other regional and global matters of shared concern.
From 26 to 28 October, the ASEAN Plus One Summits will focus on trade, investment, supply chain resilience, digitalization, renewable energy, and green growth.
A major milestone will be the ASEAN-New Zealand Commemorative Summit, during which leaders are expected to announce the ASEAN-New Zealand Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
On 27 October, the 28th ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Summit will convene ASEAN, China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea to discuss cooperation in the digital economy, maritime affairs, energy, health, education, and connectivity.
The ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) and East Asia Business Council (EABC) will brief leaders on economic and financial outlooks.
The same day, the 20th East Asia Summit will gather all 19 EAS participants, joined by the presidents of Brazil and South Africa as guests of the ASEAN chair, according to the Malaysian Foreign Affairs Ministry’s press release.
Lula-Trump possible meeting
There is a possibility of a meeting between the Brazilian president with the US president on the sidelines of the summit, according to AFP.
Brazil's Minister of Mines and Energy, Alexandre Silveira, there is "a convergence of interests between our mineral potential and American capital."
The issue could feature at a possible meeting this weekend between Trump and Brazil's leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Kuala Lumpur.
Lula himself said Friday he was willing to "talk about everything" with Trump, "from Gaza to Ukraine, Russia, Venezuela, critical minerals, rare earths."
The South American giant holds the world's second-largest reserves of these elements used in everything from electric vehicles, solar panels and smartphones to jet engines and guided missiles.
20th anniversary
Marking its 20th anniversary, the summit will reaffirm cooperation to promote peace, stability, and prosperity across East Asia, according to the Malaysian Foreign Affairs Ministry’s press release.
Following several ministerial and senior officials’ meetings from 22 to 25 October, the summits will conclude on 28 October with the handing over of the ASEAN chairmanship from Malaysia to the Philippines, symbolizing another milestone in ASEAN’s ongoing journey toward a united, peaceful, and prosperous region, the press release concluded.
.jpg)
