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The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
46TH ASEAN SUMMIT CONCLUDES WITH FOCUS ON UNITY AND GROWTH
Under Malaysia's 2025 chairmanship, the 46th Asean Summit at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) convened regional leaders amid mounting geopolitical and economic headwinds. The summit underscored a renewed focus on deepening economic integration, safeguarding regional stability and championing sustainable development. Against a backdrop of intensifying global uncertainties — from trade frictions to climate risks — Asean leaders laid out pragmatic strategies and forged new partnerships to secure the region's future. Here is an overview of the key outcomes and discussions that defined this critical summit. Asean foreign ministers' meeting Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan opened the Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) by urging member states to stand united in the face of global challenges, including the US–China trade war, climate change and rapid technological disruption. Stressing the importance of Asean Centrality, he called for deeper regional economic integration and fairer intra-Asean trade to close income gaps and build resilience. He also addressed humanitarian crises in Gaza and Myanmar, emphasising Asean's moral responsibility to uphold peace and justice. Malaysia's theme of 'Inclusivity and Sustainability' was reinforced throughout, laying the groundwork for the adoption of Asean Community Vision 2045. Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan waving towards the media members during the opening of the 46th ASEAN- Summit at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on May 26.–AZMAN GHANI/The Star Asean-GCC-China Summit embraces multipolar cooperation Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim described the inaugural Asean-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)-China Summit as a key moment for advancing collaboration in a rapidly evolving, multipolar world. The summit brought together regions with a combined population of over two billion and an economic scale nearing US$25 trillion. According to the Prime Minister's Office, the summit was expected to align with Asean's aspiration to play a greater role in shaping the Indo-Pacific's geo-economic landscape. Leaders focused on strengthening cooperation in trade, investment and sustainable development—underscoring the alliance's potential to contribute to regional stability, inclusivity and shared prosperity. Timor-Leste's Asean membership confirmed In a historic move, Asean leaders agreed to grant Timor-Leste full membership at the next summit in October 2025, increasing the bloc to 11 countries. Timor-Leste's progress in meeting membership criteria, reflects Asean's expanding inclusivity. Having been an observer since 2022, Timor-Leste is preparing to fully integrate into Asean's economic, political and social frameworks. Asean unveils 20-year strategic roadmap At the 46th Asean Summit, leaders adopted and signed the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Asean 2045: Our Shared Future. This 20-year roadmap aims to guide Asean in navigating global megatrends while reinforcing its role as a resilient, innovative and people-centred regional community. The vision is built around six core documents, including strategic plans across political-security, economic, socio-cultural and connectivity. It sets out strategic directions and expected outcomes aimed at deepening regional integration, advancing sustainability and strengthening institutional effectiveness. Asean 2045 reaffirms the bloc's commitment to placing people at the heart of its agenda, while preparing to be a global growth hub in the Indo-Pacific. With clear targets and an implementation framework, the roadmap ensures that Asean remains relevant, responsive and united in the face of future challenges. Timor-Leste Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao giving sweets to members of the media.— AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star. Awes 2025: Empowering women for Asean's economic future The inaugural Asean Women's Economic Summit (Awes) 2025 spotlighted the pivotal role of women in driving the region's economic transformation. Under the theme 'Empowering Women, Energising Asean: Pioneering Economic Integration for a Resilient Tomorrow,' the summit featured strategic dialogues, leadership workshops and mentoring programmes. These initiatives aim to position women at the forefront of Asean's economic integration, especially amid global challenges such as trade tensions and digital disruption. Awes 2025 sets a robust agenda for gender equality, reinforcing its centrality in building a resilient and innovative Asean economy. Economic milestone: Asean advances trade and energy integration At the summit, member states concluded negotiations on significant upgrades to two key trade agreements: the Asean-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) 3.0 and the Asean Trade in Goods Agreement (Atiga). These enhancements aim to deepen intra-regional trade, strengthen supply chains and boost investment flows, with formal signings anticipated at the 47th Asean Summit in October. Concurrently, Asean made strides in energy cooperation by finalising an Enhanced Memorandum of Agreement on the Asean Power Grid (APG). This initiative seeks to bolster regional energy security, connectivity, and sustainability, reflecting Asean's commitment to integrated growth and resilience amid evolving global trade dynamics. Light moment - Gusmao's sweet surprise for journalists Timor-Leste's Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao brought a sweet break to the intense Asean-GCC Summit by offering candies to the waiting journalists, joking, 'Take it, you've waited so long.' The unexpected gesture delighted and surprised the media, providing a brief but much-appreciated moment of warmth amid a busy schedule.
New Straits Times
27-05-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
NST Leader: Time for Myanmar to change
WESTERN analysts are no fan of Asean. Because, to quote The Economist, it has "the irritating habit of talking around the big issues". Hard to disagree. But Malaysia's call on Asean to speak "firmly and collectively" in defence of international law, citing the Gaza and Myanmar crises as tests of the bloc's moral responsibility will surely win some fans. Speaking at the Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the bloc must not remain on the sidelines in the face of global injustices. Blame the silence on Asean's consensus-based decision-making and its principle of non-interference. To issue a statement on any issue, it would require all the 10 countries to agree, a near impossibility. On most issues, it has been a tug of war between one group and another. One wonders where the Asean spirit fled to. At the most, if consensus is what drives its decision, then the world has to get used to "the irritating habit of talking around the big issues". This is of no help to anyone, most of all to Asean. This must change if the bloc wants to defend the oppressed, a call that Malaysia has made to Asean. We needn't go far to find the oppressed. They are within Asean in Myanmar. For more than four years the bloc has been trying to get the military junta, which overthrew an elected government in February 2021, to stop the atrocities there through the five-point consensus (5PC). But the military leaders have shown no interest in implementing it. There is a reason why the 5PC is badged consensus; military regime leader General Min Aung Hlaing himself signed the document. Frustrated by the recalcitrance of the military junta and Asean's inability to stop the atrocities in a member country, Malaysia is emerging as a vocal advocate for change, including a reconsideration of its principle of non-interference. If the military regime continues to ignore the 5PC, suspension of membership may be next. Malaysia is right. Asean cannot remain on the sidelines when atrocities are being committed against its people. More than four years is long enough to show that whatever Asean is doing now is not effective. The bloc can't keep doing the same thing and expect different results. Already more than 10,000 people have been killed — local news portals and Western media, The Economist included, call the killings massacres. Not to mention the millions of Rohingya who have fled to Bangladesh, putting great strain on the country's limited resources. Malaysia, Indonesia and others are also forced to house the Rohingya refugees. These are war crimes, yet some Asean members continue to be silent. If Asean's past is our guide, Malaysia's call for change in diplomacy may face some hurdles. Myanmar itself isn't the problem; currently it has no voting rights. The challenge will come from a few countries that are aligned with Myanmar. As consensus is still the ruling principle, it will require the agreement of all nine members. These few will certainly challenge the proposal for change. But they must remember that they are helping Min Aung Hlaing damage Asean's reputation.
The Star
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
PM seeks Asean-US meeting
PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has written to US President Donald Trump, seeking his support for a meeting between Asean and the United States. 'I have taken the liberty to write to President Trump to seek his understanding to organise a US-Asean meeting. 'This reflects our seriousness in observing the spirit of centrality,' the Prime Minister told the association leaders at the opening of the 46th Asean Summit plenary session. Anwar said the letter to Trump followed the mandate achieved at the Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in Langkawi earlier this year. Asean's economic ministers had previously said that the 10-member bloc would not impose any retaliatory measures as the group wanted to engage in a 'frank and constructive' dialogue with the United States to address trade-related concerns. On Sunday, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said that Malaysia, as Asean Chair this year, is awaiting confirmation from the United States on the proposed date for the Asean-US Special Summit. Anwar also spoke on Asean-Gulf Cooperation Council-China, saying that preserving the geo-economic model is key to securing long-term regional sustainability and inclusivity. He said the trilateral cooperation model must be safeguarded as a strategic pillar in a multipolar global landscape. 'Above all, we must preserve the multilateral system and ensure that the Asean-GCC-China geo-economic model continues to play a meaningful role in forging a more inclusive and sustainable future for our region and our people,' he said. Anwar said the inaugural Asean-GCC-China Summit, convened under Malaysia's chairmanship, reflected a 'reservoir of goodwill' and the capacity of regional blocs to act with strategic clarity. 'I believe that this trilateral Summit manifests the successful reshaping of the matrix of partnership that speaks to today's multipolar reality. 'It symbolises the power of cohesiveness of regional blocs which no doubt would have a positive impact on the world at large,' he said of the summit to be held today. Anwar also cautioned member states against the growing threat of protectionism and the unravelling of the multilateral order, citing recent unilateral tariffs imposed by the United States. 'We have acted expeditiously with the establishment of the Asean geo-economic task force, a necessary step not just for coordination but to demonstrate resolution and confidence,' he said.
Malaysiakini
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Anwar writes to Trump to request US-Asean meeting
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has written to US President Donald Trump, seeking his support to organise a meeting between Asean and the United States. Speaking during his opening address at the 46th Asean Summit today, Anwar said the move was in line with discussions during the Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in Langkawi earlier this year.
The Star
26-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
I wrote to Trump for support to organise Asean-US meeting, says Anwar
PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has written to President Donald Trump seeking his support to organise a meeting between Asean and the United States. In his keynote address at the 46th Asean Summit Plenary Session on Monday (May 26), Anwar said that this is following the mandate achieved during the Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in Langkawi earlier this year. "I have taken the liberty also to write to President Trump to seek his understanding to organise a US-Asean meeting, which means we observe seriously the spirit of centrality," said Anwar. On May 25, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said that Malaysia, as the 2025 Asean Chair, is still awaiting confirmation from the US on the proposed date for the Asean-US Special Summit. On April 5, Mohamad said he received a phone call from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss, among other things, the Malaysia-US bilateral relations under the Comprehensive Cooperation Framework. Asean's economic ministers had previously said that the 10-member bloc would not impose any retaliatory measures as the group wanted to engage in a 'frank and constructive' dialogue with the US to address trade-related concerns.
