Latest news with #46thAseanSummit
The Star
a day ago
- Business
- The Star
Several world leaders to attend 47th Asean Summit, says Anwar
PUTRAJAYA: Several world leaders including those from Asia, Europe, Canada, the United States, Africa and Latin America are expected to attend the 47th Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur this October, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Speaking at a meeting with the Prime Minister's Department staff here on Monday (July 21), Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said that so far, among those who have expressed their commitment to attend are leaders from Italy, the European Union, Canada and the United States. "It (the Asean Summit) will be a major international conference for Malaysia," he said. On July 8, Anwar said several heads of government from outside Asean had confirmed their attendance at the 47th Asean Summit and Related Summits scheduled to be held from Oct 26 to 28. Among the leaders who have confirmed their attendance are Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, whom Anwar met in Rome on July 3, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is also currently President of the G20 Group. Anwar said that his visits abroad were not for tourism, but rather in Malaysia's capacity as Asean Chair this year, apart from fulfilling invitations from several world leaders. "I am among the prime ministers who have travelled abroad the most. Coincidentally, Malaysia is Asean chairman this year," he said Expressing confidence in the services of civil servants including the national security forces based on the excellent performance shown during the recent Asean-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Asean-China Summits, Anwar is confident that the Asean Summit in October would be held successfully. "If you look at the performance (of the services) of civil servants, police, Immigration Department and airports at Asean-GCC and Asean-China, I am confident in our ability to provide the best for our country," he said. Anwar said the confidence was based on Malaysia's improved ranking in the World Competitiveness Report by the Institute for Management Development, from 34th in 2024 to 23rd in 2025. The Prime Minister said the improved ranking also reflected the international community's confidence in Malaysia's administrative capabilities. The 46th Asean Summit held in Kuala Lumpur in May also featured the second Asean GCC as well as the first-ever Asean-GCC-China Summit. Malaysia as the 2025 Asean Chairmanship with the theme 'Inclusivity and Sustainability' hosted the 46th Asean Summit and related meetings from May 22 to 27. – Bernama
New Straits Times
10-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Asean 2045: A blueprint for manufacturing competitiveness, economic resilience
The 46th Asean Summit adopted a strategic blueprint entitled, "Asean 2045: Our Shared Future". It aims to create a more competitive and dynamic ecosystem for the manufacturing sector. A key focus is to harness advances in science, technology, and innovation to boost manufacturing competitiveness. The vision encourages the development of advanced industries and the creative economy, thereby enabling more economic integration and innovation-led growth. This will help Asean manufacturers move up the value chain and produce higher-value goods. Integration into global supply chains is another critical benefit. It aims to streamline both upstream and downstream production processes, strengthen distribution and logistics networks, and ensure secure access to raw materials. Stronger and more resilient global supply chains will enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and enable the scaling of value-added manufacturing outputs. Asean 2045 emphasises support for SMEs (Small Medium Enterprises) because of their vital role in the manufacturing ecosystem, promotes expanding market access and improving digital trade facilitation to help SMEs grow and integrate into regional and global value chains. Sustainability and economic resilience are central themes in Asean 2045, encouraging green and blue economy initiatives, disaster risk financing, and climate change mitigation to ensure manufacturing remains resilient amid environmental challenges. Businesses engaged in the green technologies, renewable energy and climate-resilient industries will, therefore, find new opportunities. To reduce exposure to external financial shocks, the vision promotes the use of local currencies for cross-border transactions, stabilising trade and investment flows within Asean. And, by fostering a more integrated single market with increased intra-Asean trade and investment, it will be possible to facilitate easier market access and stronger supply chain integration, benefiting manufacturers across the region. The digital economy and technology industries are also set to thrive under Asean 2045. The vision promotes a secure and interoperable digital ecosystem, creating fertile ground for sectors involved in digital services, artificial intelligence, fintech, e-commerce, and digital infrastructure. These industries will play a crucial role in driving economic growth and regional integration and they will also present opportunities for the sector. Supply chain resilience is another crucial issue. Since all the Asean members are affected by supply chain issues, Malaysian companies that are focussed on addressing these constraints should be incentivised. This is all the more relevant if Malaysia wants to do its part to increase intra-Asean trade. The health and social services sector is also a priority, with Asean focusing on universal health coverage and resilient healthcare systems. This opens growth prospects for healthcare providers, pharmaceuticals, and medical technology companies. The government can do its part in supporting SMEs in the manufacturing sector. First, the government can provide substantial financial support and loan guarantees to enhance SME development under the 2045 blueprint. Under Malaysia's Budget 2025, there were allocations for business financing, loan guarantees and special allocations for Bumiputera SMEs. These guarantees help SMEs secure loans even if they lack collateral, enabling them to invest in machinery, automation, and expansion, inputs that are essential to enter the regional market. Second, the government must do more to promote digital transformation through grants for companies that have an Asean focus. These initiatives encourage SMEs to adopt digital tools, automate processes, and enhance operational efficiency, helping them remain competitive in an increasingly digital economy. Third, capacity building and infrastructure upgrades are necessary for the success of Asean 2045 including access to databases, knowledge of competitor markets, knowledge of FTAs and methodologies for taking advantage of them. Finally, under Asean 2045 there are opportunities for a wide range of manufacturing and related industries. This will include different sectors ranging from pharmaceuticals to medical technology and related industries such as transportation and warehousing. Since sustainability is a big target, there will be abundant opportunities in the production of equipment energy-related products. The government can also upgrade the surrounding ecosystem by improving skill availability and making institutional support frictionless. These measures will help Malaysian manufacturing SMEs overcome financial, technological, and operational challenges. The role of the government will be useful to position them for sustainable growth and integration into regional and global value chains that aligned with Asean 2045 goals. Overall, it also positions Asean as a leading industrial and manufacturing hub in the Indo-Pacific.
The Star
10-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Vietnam proposes three priorities to strengthen Asean's centrality
KUALA LUMPUR: Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son has proposed three key priorities to reinforce Asean's central role amid rising regional and global uncertainties at the plenary session of the Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday (July 9). His proposals included driving economic growth to make Asean the world's fourth-largest economy by 2030, building a leading digital community and deepening people-to-people connectivity to advance a more inclusive and action-oriented Asean. The plenary, which followed the official opening of the 58th Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM-58), focused on implementing decisions made at the 46th Asean Summit and charting the path forward for Asean Community-building efforts. Ministers emphasised the need to sustain Asean's role as a platform for cooperation, dialogue and strategic trust. They also agreed to accelerate the implementation of the Asean Community Vision 2045 and associated strategies, calling on all Asean sectoral bodies to identify priorities and translate high-level directions into concrete actions. Particular emphasis was placed on enhancing intra-regional trade and investment, facilitating trade, expanding connectivity in infrastructure, energy grids, digital networks and diversifying external partnerships. Ministers also stressed the importance of strengthening Asean's resilience to emerging growth drivers and responding to the impacts of climate change, natural disasters and extreme weather events. Sơn reaffirmed the core values that underpin Asean's success, including unity and mutual respect. In today's volatile environment, he noted, Asean's centrality, unity and strong commitment to inclusive and sustainable development must continue to serve as guiding principles. Building on that foundation, he put forward three strategic directions: First, Asean must prioritise robust economic growth to achieve its target of becoming the world's fourth-largest economy by 2030. This involves deepening intra-regional economic integration and effectively implementing the upgraded Asean Trade in Goods Agreement, while leveraging existing FTAs with partners and expanding inter-regional linkages, particularly through the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. Asean should also capitalise on e-commerce to unlock internal trade potential and expand into new markets and supply chains. Second, Asean should accelerate negotiations on a Digital Economy Framework Agreement that meets real-world needs, especially for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. New growth drivers like digital transformation and innovation ecosystems should be embedded into Asean's cooperation frameworks with external partners to attract resources and technical support. These efforts must also be reflected in Asean's own programmes and subregional cooperation initiatives. As Chair of the Asean Initiative for Asean Integration (IAI) Task Force, Việt Nam will coordinate the implementation of these initiatives under the next IAI Work Plan. Third, Asean must deepen its engagement with the people. Beyond high-level declarations, Asean's presence must be felt through concrete and meaningful actions. The region's communication strategy should be enhanced to widely promote Asean's achievements and contributions through real stories of individuals and communities. Vietnam will soon develop a national implementation plan for Asean's strategic 2045 documents to bring Asean closer to its citizens, businesses, and localities. Sơn also reaffirmed Vietnam's support for Timor-Leste's accession to Asean and its readiness to assist the country in fulfilling membership criteria, including participation in legal instruments. He called on Asean to develop a clear roadmap to support Timor-Leste's effective integration and full implementation of member obligations. Earlier, in his opening address to AMM-58, Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stressed the need for Asean to remain proactive, strategically autonomous and united in shaping the region's future amid mounting global volatility. He said Asean's true strength lies in its solidarity, cohesion and commitment to overcoming differences through mutual respect, dialogue and consensus. He warned against the weaponisation of economic tools for geopolitical competition and urged Asean to act with clarity and resolve. Asean, he emphasised, must determine its own path with purpose, vision, and ambition. It should promote meaningful integration and stronger coordination across diplomatic and economic pillars to build an inclusive and sustainable economy. Anwar also highlighted key cooperation areas that directly benefit people, including connectivity, food security, digital transformation, education, healthcare and climate resilience. He expressed hope to welcome Timor-Leste as Asean's next official member and called on member states to support its integration not only institutionally but as part of Asean's shared regional vision. - Vietnam News/ANN
Bangkok Post
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Bangkok Post
Myanmar's 'my way' vs Asean norms
It appeared to be a done deal. During their summit on May 26, Asean leaders agreed to admit Timor-Leste as the 11th member of the regional bloc. Since then, Nay Pyi Taw has raised an unexpected objection, with the junta issuing an official statement that could potentially embarrass Asean and its current chair, Malaysia. Myanmar threatened to derail Timor-Leste's accession if Dili continues to engage with the National Unity Government (NUG), which opposes the State Administration Council (SAC) regime in Myanmar. Timor-Leste is among a dozen countries, mainly in the West, that have allowed the NUG to establish representative offices, both formally and informally. This move shows Myanmar's preference for a unilateralist approach, let's call it "my way" policy, challenging the long-standing Asean Way, which has underpinned the bloc's consensus-based diplomacy for nearly six decades. At the upcoming three-day Asean Ministerial Meeting (AMM) in Kuala Lumpur beginning tomorrow, the looming question is how to reconcile these divergent demeanours within the bloc that prides itself on unity and non-interference. At the May summit, during the retreat, Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong strongly supported Timor-Leste and proposed admitting the world's youngest democracy in October. Myanmar's representative, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Aung Kyaw Moe, who also attended the previous 44th and 45th summits, was mute. That silence was interpreted as consent, enabling Prime Minister Ibrahim Anwar to conclude that consensus had been reached. The chairman's statement of the 46th Asean Summit, in particular paragraphs 124-126, confirmed that ministers and senior officials were tasked with finalising the procedural steps for Timor-Leste's admission at the 47th Asean Summit, while expediting key economic negotiations. The leaders encouraged all partners to assist Dili in fulfilling the criteria outlined in the roadmap. The upcoming Asean summit is scheduled for Oct 24-26. But on June 14, a letter signed by Han Win Aung, Director General and alternate Asean Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) leader, urged Timor-Leste to "refrain from engaging with entities that are explicitly opposed or contrary to the positions of Asean member states". The letter warned that if Timor-Leste "persists in its blatant violation of the principle of non-interference", Asean should reject its membership and suspend all procedural steps until Dili "rectifies its approach". The tough stance demonstrates how the SAC's "my way" clashes with the Asean Way, which emphasises consensus, restraint, and mutual respect. Since the 2021 coup, Myanmar has half-heartedly cooperated with Asean's Five-Point Consensus, failing to fully implement the bloc's peace plan. Instead, Nay Pyi Taw is pursuing its own five-point roadmap, which shares some common goals, especially in the holding of elections. However, the SAC lacks credibility and inclusiveness to conduct "free and fair" polls that few believe in. If Myanmar wants to return to Asean's embrace after the election, it must adopt the Asean Way, both in principle and in practice. Obviously, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing is using the elections as an exit strategy, but Asean has leverage. The bloc's eventual recognition of the outcome will be crucial to lend any legitimacy. Without Asean endorsement, the polls could deepen Myanmar's isolation and further deepen its fragmentation. After the coup and the more recent earthquake, public services have deteriorated and alienated potential voters. Throughout the past four years, the regional bloc has insisted that humanitarian aid and peace must come first to create an atmosphere conducive to allowing Myanmar's people to take part in an inclusive election that is free and fair. The confrontation between the Asean Way and "my way" is not confined to Myanmar. The recent tensions between Thailand and Cambodia over boundary demarcation and the reopening of border checkpoints have added complexity to Malaysia's chairmanship. Both sides have invoked the principle of non-interference not to seek help from Asean's High Council, under the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation. Instead, Cambodia has resorted to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Phnom Penh's request to internationalise the bilateral issue could break a precedent if raised within the framework of the Asean annual meeting. Thailand has reiterated that the current dispute should best be settled through established bilateral mechanisms. This episode is reminiscent of 2006, when the Thaksin administration threatened to boycott the Asean Summit under the Laos chair if Malaysia brought up the Tak Bai incident. Fortunately, diplomacy prevailed. The incident shows how deeply ingrained the Asean Way is. Whenever members have deep disagreements, they avoid internationalising bilateral issues to preserve harmony within the bloc. Yet, much to the chagrin of Asean watchers, the bloc has also tolerated selective applications of the "my way" approach, especially in economic diplomacy amid the great geopolitical shifts. Most recently, as the bloc collectively responds to US tariff hikes and broader global trade disruptions, Asean leaders have allowed their colleagues to pursue individual negotiations, provided they align with the bloc's broader consensus. Vietnam's bilateral negotiations with the US over tariffs are a case in point, demonstrating whether national interest and Asean solidarity can coexist. Like the rest of Asean, Hanoi reaffirms its support for a predictable, transparent, free, fair, inclusive, sustainable, and rules-based multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) at its core. Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Cambodia are also taking similar routes. The Asean Way has long been criticised for relying on the "lowest common denominator" to reach consensus, but has allowed flexibility in practice. Member states quietly pursue their own paths without fracturing the bloc. This dual-track approach allows them to protect national interests without undermining regional unity. The challenge is ensuring that "my way" policies, like Myanmar's obstruction of Timor-Leste's entry, do not sabotage Asean's integrity. The clash between "my way" and the Asean Way may sound contradictory to some, absurd to others. It is not a zero-sum gambit. With the Asean Way, all members respect shared principles while carving out space for individual agency. Malaysia's chairmanship has an important task to steer this balance. At the upcoming post-ministerial conferences following the Asean annual conference, the Asean foreign ministers are scheduled to meet with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has confirmed his attendance on Thursday and Friday, following the July 9 deadline of reciprocal tariffs. Asean wants to ensure Washington's long-term commitment to the region. Recently, several flagship US-Asean initiatives, including the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative, were axed. On a happier note, Asean's non-binding yet inclusive approach continues to win new converts. The 1976 Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC), now has 59 signatories, including all major powers. Algeria and Uruguay will accede to the TAC at the Kuala Lumpur meeting. The Asean model is not perfect, but it is gaining global traction due to its voluntary cooperation, mutual respect, and incremental progress. For the Asean Way to stay relevant, it must be modernised to counter growing "my way" tendencies with assertive national interests. It must refine its consensus mechanism to accommodate diversity, preventing any single member from holding the entire bloc hostage. Myanmar's obstruction of Timor-Leste's membership is a litmus test. This week, the world will find out whether the Asean Way can be a driving force in managing internal dissent or torn apart by conflicting "my way" tactics. After all, it has endured for the past 58 years, and it will continue to live on. The challenge is to turn the apparent contradiction between the Asean Way and "my way" into a strength, not a liability.
New Straits Times
06-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Timor-Leste's Asean membership high on Asean foreign ministers' agenda
KUALA LUMPUR: Paving the way for Timor-Leste's accession to Asean will be high on the agenda of the bloc's foreign ministers gathering here from July 8 to 11. Foreign Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Amran Mohamed Zin said the Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) will ensure the full implementation of decisions made during the 46th Asean Summit to pave the way for Timor-Leste's full membership of the regional bloc. He said Timor-Leste's full membership is expected to take effect at the 47th summit in October. "Timor-Leste's participation in Asean was decided by Asean leaders during the 46th summit in May, and the effective date for its full membership will be during the 47th summit in October. "In the context of this upcoming ministerial meeting, as usual, Timor-Leste will continue to participate as an observer. "The focus at the Asean foreign ministers' level is to ensure the implementation of the decisions made during the 46th summit in May, so that everything is completed before the 47th summit in October so that on the first day of the summit, Timor-Leste will be admitted as a full member of," he said yesterday at a press briefing ahead of the 58th AMM and related meetings. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had said the Asean had agreed to accept Timor-Leste as a full member , pending the completion of legal requirements under the Asean Foreign Ministers' framework. The 58th AMM and related meetings, will feature 24 ministerial-level meetings, including engagements with Asean dialogue partners and sectoral dialogue partners. In conjunction with the meetings, Malaysia will also host the Fourth Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development (CEAPAD IV). Co-chaired with Japan and Palestine, the conference will discuss initiatives to support the reconstruction and development of Gaza and Palestine. About 1,500 delegates, including foreign ministers from Asean and the bloc's partner nations, will gather for the high-level meetings, to be held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
