SEVERAL ASEAN SENIOR OFFICIALS ARRIVE TODAY AS SOM BEGINS AHEAD OF 47TH ASEAN SUMMIT

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 23 (Bernama) -- Senior officials from ASEAN member states began arriving today to attend the Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) and related preparatory sessions, marking the start of a week-long series of discussions leading up to the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Kuala Lumpur.

Among those who arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) were senior representatives from the Philippines, Myanmar, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand and the United Nations.

They are Hellen B. De La Vega of the Philippines, Han Win Aung of Myanmar, Sidharto Reza Suryodipuro of Indonesia, Albert Chua of Singapore, Dang Hoang Giang of Vietnam, Eksiri Pintaruchi of Thailand and Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana representing the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP).

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The officials, who arrived throughout the day from morning until late evening, were welcomed by Malaysian officials and liaison officers at the KLIA Main Terminal Building (MTB) and Satellite Terminal.

The SOM and related sessions, which commenced today, set the stage for the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits to be held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) from Oct 26 to 28.

These preparatory meetings will pave the way for high-level ministerial engagements beginning Friday (Oct 24), culminating in the opening ceremony to be officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

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Meanwhile, the arrivals of ASEAN senior officials will continue tomorrow and over the next few days, followed by the arrival of heads of states and government from ASEAN member states and dialogue partners ahead of the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits this weekend.

Under Malaysia’s 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship theme of ‘Inclusivity and Sustainability,’ this summit is set to be one of the largest in ASEAN’s history, serving as a crucial platform to foster deeper regional collaboration and address global challenges cohesively and inclusively.

The event will also see Timor-Leste’s active participation towards its accession as ASEAN’s 11th member, expected to be formalised during the summit on Oct 26.

Malaysia’s hosting of the ASEAN Summit and related meetings comes at a time when the global economy faces mounting pressure from US tariff measures and ongoing geopolitical uncertainties.

Among the key meetings taking place this week include the 26th ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Council Meeting, focusing on the AEC Blueprint 2025, as well as the ASEAN Geoeconomics Task Force (AGTF) Experts+4 Meeting, which will discuss strategies to navigate intensifying global economic and trade headwinds.

Over 20 world leaders including US President Donald Trump, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, European Council President Antonio Costa, and Japan’s first female Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi are scheduled to converge in the Malaysian capital for the summit.

This marks the fifth time Malaysia has assumed the ASEAN Chair since the bloc’s establishment in 1967, following its previous chairmanships in 2015, 2005, 1997 and 1977.

-- BERNAMA