Malaysia is hosting the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits from October 26 to 28, 2025, at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), marking the culmination of its 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship under the theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability.”

The high-level gathering will bring together ASEAN leaders and key dialogue partners for a series of summits aimed at strengthening regional unity, advancing economic integration, and addressing pressing global and regional challenges.

The summit’s opening ceremony on October 26 will feature the signing of the Declaration on the Admission of Timor-Leste into ASEAN, formally welcoming the country as the bloc’s 11th member state. The ceremony will be attended by all ASEAN leaders, including the President and Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, as well as invited guests and dignitaries.

Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim will chair the 47th ASEAN Summit, which will include plenary and retreat sessions. During the plenary session, leaders will discuss advancing ASEAN Community-building, deepening regional economic integration, and enhancing connectivity.

Special guests of the ASEAN Chair—namely the Prime Minister of Canada, President of the European Council, and IMF Managing Director—will participate in discussions focusing on global economic resilience, regional growth, and ASEAN’s role in maintaining a rules-based multilateral order.

The retreat session will focus on implementing the Five-Point Consensus on Myanmar, reviewing progress toward resolving the ongoing political and humanitarian crisis, and addressing key regional and global issues.

Between October 26 and 28, the ASEAN Plus One Summits will convene leaders from ASEAN and seven dialogue partners—Australia, China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Russia, and the United States. Discussions will cover trade and investment, digital transformation, renewable energy, supply chain resilience, and green growth.

A major highlight will be the ASEAN–New Zealand Commemorative Summit, celebrating 50 years of dialogue relations. Leaders are expected to announce the establishment of the ASEAN–New Zealand Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) to further enhance cooperation.

The 28th ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Summit, to be held on October 27, will bring together leaders from ASEAN, China, Japan, and South Korea to review progress in areas such as digital economy, maritime cooperation, connectivity, health, and education.

The summit will also feature briefings from the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) and the East Asia Business Council (EABC) on regional macroeconomic and financial developments.

The 20th East Asia Summit, also on October 27, will gather leaders from 19 participating nations—including ASEAN states, the U.S., China, India, Japan, Russia, Australia, and New Zealand. The meeting will review two decades of EAS achievements and focus on strategic, political, and economic cooperation to promote peace and prosperity in the region.

The Presidents of Brazil and South Africa will attend as Guests of the ASEAN Chair, representing the current chairs of BRICS and the G20, respectively.

Malaysia will also host the 5th Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Summit on October 27 and the 3rd Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Leaders’ Meeting on October 26, underscoring the country’s focus on sustainable growth and regional economic cooperation.

The summit series marks the conclusion of Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship for 2025. A formal handover ceremony will take place on October 28, transferring the ASEAN Chairmanship to the Philippines, which will lead the bloc beginning January 1, 2026.

Senior officials, foreign ministers, and economic ministers will hold preparatory meetings from October 22 to 25 ahead of the leaders’ summits.

Malaysia’s hosting of the 47th ASEAN Summit reaffirms its commitment to advancing ASEAN’s unity, integration, and shared vision of peace, prosperity, and sustainability for the region. (ILKHA)