Malaysia Opens 47th ASEAN Summit with Strong Call for Unity, Peace, and Shared Prosperity
Voice of Malaysia News
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 26: The 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits officially commenced this morning at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), with Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim urging regional leaders to uphold unity, strengthen cooperation, and reaffirm ASEAN’s shared commitment to peace and prosperity amid a changing global landscape.
In his opening address, Anwar extended a warm welcome to ASEAN heads of state, dialogue partners, and distinguished guests, emphasizing that leadership in these uncertain times demands vision and courage.
“2025 is a year that asks more of us. The world feels unsettled — the old order no longer certain, the new one not yet defined,” Anwar said. “Yet amid these trials, ASEAN endures. Our strength lies not in uniformity, but in the conviction that respect and reason still bind us together.”
A key highlight of this year’s Summit will be the signing of a peace agreement between Cambodia and Thailand, set to take place later today in Kuala Lumpur. Anwar hailed the agreement as a testament to ASEAN’s enduring belief in diplomacy and reconciliation.
“Reconciliation is not a concession, but an act of courage — and peace, once chosen, can reshape the future of nations,” he remarked.
Reaffirming ASEAN’s long-term aspirations, Anwar highlighted the bloc’s commitment to the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, which envisions a united, peaceful, resilient, and people-centered region.
He also celebrated Timor-Leste’s formal admission as ASEAN’s 11th member, calling it a “historic milestone that completes the ASEAN family and strengthens regional solidarity.”
On the Myanmar crisis, Anwar reiterated Malaysia’s and ASEAN’s steadfast commitment to the Five-Point Consensus, underscoring that any sustainable peace “must be Myanmar-owned and Myanmar-led.”
He further called for a reinvigorated collective approach to address shared challenges, including geopolitical tensions, food security, and energy transitions.
As ASEAN Chair for 2025, Malaysia has prioritized initiatives to boost economic resilience, trade integration, and sustainable growth.
Among the key deliverables highlighted were
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Upgraded ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA): Enhancing regional trade efficiency and competitiveness.
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ASEAN Power Grid (APG) and Financing Facility: Bridging energy investment gaps and accelerating clean energy transition.
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ASEAN Blue Economy Framework and Regional EV Ecosystem: Driving innovation and green industrial transformation.
“Economic progress must not come at the expense of our environment. Our goal is inclusive, green, and future-ready growth,” Anwar said.
Anwar announced that ASEAN will expedite the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) for completion by 2026, projecting the bloc’s digital economy to double to USD 2 trillion by 2030.
He also unveiled the ASEAN AI Safety Network (AI SAFE), a pioneering initiative to promote the ethical, transparent, and secure development of artificial intelligence across Southeast Asia.
The Prime Minister reaffirmed ASEAN’s commitment to openness and constructive engagement with the international community.
Malaysia will host several high-level summits, including the 2nd ASEAN-GCC, ASEAN-GCC-China, and 5th RCEP Leaders’ Summits, underscoring the region’s role as a nexus for global trade and diplomacy.
Anwar also welcomed Brazil and South Africa as Guests of the Chair at the 20th East Asia Summit, describing their inclusion as a step toward deepening ASEAN’s ties with BRICS, the G20, and the Global South.
Concluding his address, Anwar underscored that ASEAN’s destiny lies in the decisions its leaders make today.
“The future of ASEAN will not be written by circumstance. It will be written by choice by the choices we make today,” he said, before formally declaring open the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits.
— Voice of Malaysia News