Langkawi: This evening, Dato' Sri Amran Mohamed Zin, ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) Leader for Malaysia and Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will host a welcome dinner for ASEAN SOM leaders, the ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General, and the Timor-Leste SOM Leader at the Breeze Lounge, The Westin Langkawi. The dinner will also be attended by Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Dato' Sri Shamsul Azri bin Abu Bakar, reflecting the importance Malaysia places on high-level cooperation and engagement within ASEAN.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the welcome dinner is a long-standing ASEAN tradition, providing delegates with an opportunity for camaraderie and informal discussions ahead of the Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM), set to begin at 8am on 18 January 2025. It offers SOM Leaders a chance to foster relationships, exchange views, and address pertinent issues in a relaxed setting, setting the stage for important discussions in the formal meeting.