47th ASEAN Summit begins in Kuala Lumpur; PM Modi joins virtually
Kuala Lumpur,: The 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and related meetings opened in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Sunday under the theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in the summit virtually, rather than travelling to Malaysia. Earlier, in a social media post, PM Modi said he had spoken with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to congratulate him on assuming the ASEAN Chairmanship and extended best wishes for the success of the summits. He also reaffirmed India’s commitment to deepening the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
The three-day summit, being held from October 26 to 28, will see leaders from ASEAN member nations and major global partners, including the US, China, Japan, and South Korea. Over 30 heads of state and government have been invited, with more than 10,000 police personnel deployed to secure the Malaysian capital.
US President Donald Trump is among the invitees and is expected to witness the signing of a peace accord between Cambodia and Thailand, following July’s deadly border clashes resolved through Anwar’s mediation.
Other notable attendees include South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, and Japan’s first female Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will also participate.
From ASEAN, leaders such as Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto, Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet, Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, the Philippines’ President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Laos’ Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, and Timor-Leste’s President Jose Ramos-Horta are expected to attend.
Timor-Leste is set to be officially admitted as ASEAN’s 11th member during the summit.
International figures, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, representatives from the World Bank and IMF, and European Council President Antonio Costa, will also be present. Russia will be represented by Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, as President Vladimir Putin will not attend. Myanmar’s military junta remains uninvited since the 2021 coup.
Key discussions will focus on trade, security, and regional cooperation. Host Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has called for “positive outcomes,” with U.S. tariffs and access to rare earth minerals—vital for high-tech manufacturing—set to dominate talks.
ASEAN leaders are also expected to deliberate on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the world’s largest trade pact covering nearly one-third of global GDP, alongside regional crises including the Myanmar conflict, the plight of the Rohingya, tensions in the South China Sea, and the Gaza situation.
Additionally, the summit will address cross-border issues such as cyber scams and illicit networks that have generated billions across Southeast Asia.
