Kuala Lumpur: The ASEAN-Korea Music Festival (ROUND) 2025 was officially launched here this evening by Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan, in a ceremony celebrating unity through music and cultural exchange. The event brought together diplomats, cultural leaders, artists, and guests from ASEAN member states and the Republic of Korea, marking a significant milestone in regional cooperation. According to BERNAMA News Agency, Khairul Firdaus highlighted the festival's theme, 'Come Around, Here to Shine', as a reflection of Malaysia's commitment to fostering a new model of cultural diplomacy under its ASEAN Chairmanship this year. 'Through the ASEAN-Korea Music Festival, we reaffirm the importance of cultural exchange as a conduit for social cohesion, deepening our mutual understanding and strengthening the bonds between the people of ASEAN and the Republic of Korea,' he said in a statement today. He added that Malaysia continues to prioritise creative and cultural cooperatio n as a vital tool for people-to-people connectivity and regional development, in line with the spirit of Malaysia MADANI - an inclusive framework promoting sustainability, compassion, and mutual respect. The two-day festival, jointly organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) and the Korea Broadcasting System (KBS), features performances by acclaimed artists from both ASEAN and Korea. Meanwhile, Republic of Korea Ambassador to Malaysia Yeo Seung-bae said the festival comes at an opportune time as Korea hosts APEC and Malaysia chairs ASEAN in 2025. 'Korea's hosting of APEC and Malaysia's ASEAN Chairmanship this year offer a timely and valuable opportunity to elevate our cooperation to the next level. Building on this shared vision at the leadership level, our two countries are set to pursue a broad range of collaborative initiatives with cultural exchange taking centre stage,' he said. MOTAC will continue to leverage the power of culture as an engine for sustainable tourism, socio-economi c development, and international cooperation. The event also sets the tone for Visit Malaysia 2026, positioning the country as a hub for cultural convergence and artistic innovation, in line with the aspirations of the Malaysia MADANI vision.