Kuala lumpur: Over the next three days, ASEAN leaders will gather at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre for the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits. The focus will be on ASEAN Community-building and external relations.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the leaders will discuss ways to deepen regional integration, stimulate economic growth, and enhance ASEAN connectivity. On external relations, the heads of the 10-member bloc will address efforts to reinforce ASEAN unity and centrality, as well as strengthen ASEAN's commitment to a rules-based multilateral order in the evolving global geostrategic landscape.
Malaysia, as the ASEAN Chair, is hosting the summit under the theme 'Inclusivity and Sustainability' from October 26 to 28, 2025. The event includes various summits such as the ASEAN Summit, the ASEAN Plus One Summits with seven Dialogue Partners, the ASEAN Plus Three Summit, East Asia Summit, ASEAN-United Nations Summit, and the ASEAN-New Zealand Commemorative Summit to mark 50 years of dialogue relations.
The opening ceremony on October 26 will see the signing of the Declaration on the Admission of Timor-Leste into ASEAN, marking its formal admission as the 11th ASEAN member state. Canada and the European Union (EU) will also present their perspectives on further consolidating and deepening dialogue relations with ASEAN.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is set to brief the leaders on its latest global macroeconomic assessments and policy implications for ASEAN. During the Retreat Session, the leaders will review the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) on Myanmar and exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual concern.
The ASEAN Plus One Summits will focus on trade, investment, supply chain resilience, digitalisation, renewable energy, and green growth. In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-New Zealand dialogue relations, the leaders are expected to announce the establishment of the ASEAN-New Zealand Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP).
The ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Summit on October 27 will involve ASEAN, China, Japan, and South Korea, focusing on areas such as the digital economy, maritime cooperation, energy, connectivity, health, and education. The East Asia Summit (EAS) will review progress on broad strategic, political, and economic issues to promote regional peace, stability, and prosperity.
Apart from the ASEAN Summit, Malaysia will host the third Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Leaders' Meeting and the fifth Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Summit. These summits are preceded by meetings of Foreign and Economic Ministers and senior officials.
The 47th ASEAN Summit reflects Malaysia's commitment to strengthening ASEAN's integration agenda and advancing the shared vision of peace and prosperity. The event marks the culmination of Malaysia's ASEAN Chairmanship 2025, with the Philippines set to take over as the next ASEAN chair on January 1, 2026. A handing-over ceremony will be held on October 28, 2025.