By Mohd Khairi Idham Amran, Ahmad Aidi Syukri Hamzah and Kuvineshwaren Nedunjelian
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called on East Asia Summit (EAS) leaders to renew their shared purpose and reaffirm their commitment to dialogue, cooperation and multilateralism in addressing regional and global challenges.
Marking the 20th anniversary of the EAS, Anwar said the leaders-led forum was founded on the wisdom and foresight of its founders to serve as a platform for strategic, political and economic dialogue, with ASEAN as the driving force.
“Today, we must renew our shared purpose. We assert our objectives and promote principled and forward-looking engagements,” said Anwar in his opening remarks at the summit here today.
In attendance were Sultan of Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, Timor-Leste Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Also present were US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk, Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Sugiono, Indian Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Myanmar Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Hau Khan Sum.
Anwar said member countries are urged to continue advocating “dialogue over coercion, balance over binaries, cooperation over confrontation” and to uphold global peace and security based on multilateralism and international law.
On global and regional issues, he welcomed the recent comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict which he described as “an important, critical beginning to stop this madness, genocide and atrocities”.
He said the initiative must be closely monitored to ensure a just, inclusive and lasting political solution for Palestine.
Anwar also touched on Myanmar, saying that ASEAN reiterated its commitment to the Five-Point Consensus and Malaysia has been actively engaging with all parties to encourage peace and humanitarian relief.
He said Malaysia has conveyed to Myanmar’s leaders that ASEAN is ready to provide humanitarian support under two conditions -- an immediate ceasefire and full access for aid delivery to all communities, regardless of ethnicity or political affiliation.
The Prime Minister said Malaysia’s field hospital in Myanmar has been granted access over the past year and he commended the Myanmar authorities for allowing some progress, though sporadic violence still occurs.
He said Malaysia has also hosted representatives from 27 opposition groups and ethnic parties in Kuala Lumpur, coordinated by the Foreign Ministry, as part of efforts to foster inclusive dialogue.
On the South China Sea, Anwar said Malaysia welcomes the ongoing work to formulate a Code of Conduct (CoC), stressing that all disputes should be resolved within ASEAN and with regional partners, not through external imposition.
“Because the moment it is seen to be imposed and dictated by outside forces, things become more problematic and tense. As far as we are concerned, things are still under control,” he said.
He said all parties should remain guided by universally recognised principles of international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Anwar also expressed concern over the recent surge in ballistic missile launches by North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea or DPRK), saying Malaysia continues to support engagement as the preferred approach.
“Once we called for dialogue from Gaza to Ukraine to Myanmar, we should not preclude engagement with DPRK,” he said.
The Prime Minister said the summit would adopt the Kuala Lumpur Declaration commemorating the 20th anniversary of the EAS, as well as a statement on promoting localisation in anticipatory action for disaster preparedness and response.
He said the two documents are proof that “diversity does not divide” and that collective action remains the foundation of the region’s resilience.
In welcoming Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and South African President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa as Guests of the Chair, Anwar praised both leaders for their commitment to multilateralism and democratic transition.
He added that Malaysia hopes to deepen cooperation with Africa and Latin America in trade, investment and geopolitical engagement through ASEAN and EAS platforms.
The 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits is being held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from Oct 26 to 28 under Malaysia’s ASEAN 2025 Chairmanship themed “Inclusivity and Sustainability".
-- BERNAMA
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