LEADERS AT 47TH ASEAN SUMMIT TO DISCUSS WAYS TO DEEPEN REGIONAL INTEGRATION, DRIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH - WISMA PUTRA

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 25 (Bernama) -- Over the next three days ASEAN leaders are set to congregate at the sprawling Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre for the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits where discussions will focus on issues related to ASEAN Community-building and its external relations.

The leaders will also deliberate on ways to deepen regional integration, stimulate economic growth, and enhance ASEAN connectivity, the Foreign Ministry said today.

On external relations, the heads of the 10-member bloc will discuss efforts to reinforce ASEAN unity and centrality, and strengthen ASEAN’s commitment to a rules-based multilateral order in the evolving global geostrategic landscape, the ministry said in a statement.

Malaysia, as ASEAN Chair, is hosting the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits under the theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability” at the KLCC from Oct 26 to 28, 2025.

These summits consist of the ASEAN Summit, the ASEAN Plus One Summits between ASEAN and seven Dialogue Partners, namely, Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Russia, the United States, as well as the ASEAN Plus Three Summit, East Asia Summit, ASEAN-United Nations Summit, and ASEAN-New Zealand Commemorative Summit to mark 50 years of dialogue relations.

The opening ceremony of the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits is scheduled for Oct 26. It will be attended by all ASEAN leaders including Timor-Leste’s President José Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, guests of the ASEAN Chair, as well as other invited guests.

During the ceremony, the Declaration on the Admission of Timor-Leste into ASEAN will be signed, marking the country’s formal admission as the 11th ASEAN member State.

At the 47th ASEAN Summit on Oct 26, Canada and the European Union (EU) will also share their perspectives on further consolidating and deepening their respective dialogue relations with ASEAN.

Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will be briefing the leaders on IMF’s latest global macroeconomic assessments, policy implications for ASEAN, and avenues to deepen IMF-ASEAN collaboration.

During the Retreat Session, the leaders will review the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) on Myanmar and the way forward in addressing the political and humanitarian crisis in the country, as well as exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual concern.

During the ASEAN Plus One Summits, the leaders will review the progress of ASEAN Plus One dialogue relations and its future direction, as well as exchange views on regional and international issues.

Among the topics that will be discussed are trade and investment, supply chain resilience, digitalisation, renewable energy, green growth as well as regional and international issues of common concern, said the ministry.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of ASEAN–New Zealand dialogue relations. During the ASEAN–New Zealand Commemorative Summit, the leaders are expected to announce the establishment of the ASEAN-New Zealand Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP).

Meanwhile, the ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Summit on Oct  27 involves the leaders of ASEAN, China, Japan, and South Korea who will review the progress achieved under the APT cooperation framework and its future direction, focusing on areas such as digital economy, maritime cooperation, energy, connectivity, health and education.

“The leaders will also exchange views on regional and international issues of common concern. The summit will also involve briefing by guests of the Chair, namely ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) and East Asia Business Council (EABC), on the region’s macroeconomic and financial outlook, as well as regional economic growth, respectively,” said Wisma Putra.

The 20th East Asia Summit (EAS) to be held on Oct  27 will involve all 19 participants of the East Asia Summit, namely ASEAN member states, Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, and the United States.

According to Wisma Putra, the summit will look back on the achievements of the EAS on its 20th anniversary and review the progress of the EAS cooperation, focusing on broad strategic, political, and economic issues, with the aim of promoting regional peace, stability, and prosperity in East Asia.

The summit will also be attended by guests of the ASEAN Chair, namely Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in their capacity as the Chair of BRICS and G20, respectively.

Apart from the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, Malaysia will also host the third Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Leaders’ Meeting on Oct 26 and the fifth Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Summit on Oct 27.

All these summits will be preceded by various meetings at the levels of Foreign and Economic Ministers as well as senior officials from Oct 22 to 25, 2025.

The 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits reflect Malaysia’s unwavering resolve and commitment in strengthening ASEAN’s integration agenda and advancing the shared vision of peace and prosperity.

The summits are also the culmination of Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship 2025, before the Philippines assumes the next ASEAN chairmanship beginning Jan 1, 2026. The handing over ceremony of the ASEAN chairmanship from Malaysia to the Philippines will be on Oct 28, 2025.

-- BERNAMA