Malaysia to drive stronger, resilient Asean community - Anwar
Gaza, Myanmar crises on agenda as Asean Summit kicks off in KL
KOUSALYA SELVAM , WAN AHMAD ATARMIZI , SHARIFAH SHAHIRAH
KUALA LUMPUR – The 46th Asean Summit, a pivotal gathering of Southeast Asian leaders, is set to chart the course for Asean’s future.
It will address pressing regional and global issues while boosting collaboration across the political-security, economic and socio-cultural pillars.
With Malaysia holding the Asean Chairmanship this year, the summit brings forth Malaysia’s vision of an 'inclusive and sustainable' Asean Community.
In his opening remarks, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that Malaysia is responsible for shaping a stronger, more inclusive and resilient Asean Community.
"The theme ‘Inclusivity and Sustainability’ is not just a slogan, it is our commitment to ensuring Asean remains relevant and responsive to the aspirations of its people,” he said at the 46th Asean Summit Conference held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
The summit will unveil Asean’s long-term vision for 2045, aligning the bloc’s priorities with a people-centered and future-ready approach.
Discussions will cover a broad spectrum of challenges, including the South China Sea dispute, the humanitarian crises in Gaza and Myanmar, and unilateral trade tariffs.
Economic issues such as digital transformation, sustainable infrastructure and supply chain resilience are also high on the agenda.
Leaders will engage with stakeholders, including the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, Asean youth representatives and the Asean Business Advisory Council, aiming to integrate diverse voices into policymaking.
Anwar stated that this summit represents an opportunity to align Asean’s aspirations with Malaysia’s Madani vision, strengthening the region’s diplomatic and economic cooperation while addressing global challenges.
The summit will host the 2nd Asean-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit and the inaugural Asean-GCC-China Summit, marking a new chapter in trilateral relations.
With trade between Asean and the GCC reaching USD130.7 billion and GCC investments in Asean at USD390.2 million, the meetings aim to enhance cooperation in free trade, education, and sustainable development.
“These partnerships represent a unique opportunity to deepen economic collaboration between Asean, GCC and China.
"Together, these regions account for a combined GDP of nearly USD25 trillion and a population of over 2 billion," he said.
China remains Asean’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade amounting to USD696.7 billion.
The summit’s focus on strengthening trilateral economic ties with GCC and China is expected to drive cross-regional trade, supply chain integration and sustainable infrastructure initiatives.
Hosting the summit is projected to benefit Malaysia economically, particularly in the tourism and hospitality sectors.
It also offers opportunities for local SMEs to engage in business activities linked to the event.
Download Sinar Daily application.Click Here!
