Anwar: October summit to be Asean's biggest ever
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said heads of government from Asean, including dialogue partners, would be in attendance.
Anwar said it is time for Asean to rise to the occasion and ensure that all leaders have a fruitful dialogue.
"In the final week of October, our aim is as audacious as it is consequential - to deliver Asean's largest and most high-profile gathering of world leaders to date.
"It will be a veritable assembly of the world's principal centres of power and influence.
"We look forward to welcoming the heads of government of Asean and our dialogue partners, including United States President Donald Trump and, I believe, President Xi Jinping of China.
"In addition, we have received positive indications of attendance from Brazilian President Lula da Silva and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who currently hold the BRICS and the G20 presidencies, respectively," he said in his speech at the 58th Asean Day celebration.
Anwar said that securing their presence is only the first step, as the greater test is to ensure that they leave Malaysia and Asean feeling that their time was well spent.
He said it was their duty to ensure the visit yields results of lasting value.
"The eyes of the world will be upon us.
"We must therefore rise to the occasion," he said.
He said that Malaysia stands at the threshold of the culmination point, where what it does in the month ahead will decide how history judges its year as Asean chair.
Anwar said Asean should also move to ensure that it remains durable and strong, with enhanced economic relations through intra-Asean trade and investments, regional efforts in energy, the green agenda and connectivity, which happen to be the thrust of its economic agenda.
"I believe much more needs to be done.
"One of the key issues to be deliberated in October will be intra-Asean trade, cross-border investments, energy and connectivity," he said.
Meanwhile, Anwar said the Asean founding fathers would look at the bloc now with great pride.
However, he said the motivations and concerns of those who signed the Bangkok Declaration in 1967 should not be taken for granted.
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