Kuala Lumpur: The 46th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit began in Malaysia’s capital, emphasizing the importance of regional integration and resilience against trade and economic disruptions.
According to Lao News Agency, the summit’s opening ceremony featured a call from Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for ASEAN members to collaborate in addressing the challenges posed by a shifting global order. He stressed the importance of maintaining the agenda of sustainable and equitable development amidst these changes.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stated, “For ASEAN, our peace, stability and prosperity have often depended on an open, inclusive, rules-based international order, anchored in the free flow of trade, capital, and people. These foundations are now being dismantled under the force of arbitrary action.”
Malaysia, as the chair of ASEAN for 2025, is hosting the summit and related meetings under the theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability.” The ASEAN group, established in 1967, includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
