47th ASEAN Summit kicks off in Kuala Lumpur, Calls for Stronger Economic Partnerships
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) inaugurated its 47th summit on Sunday in Kuala Lumpur under the theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability,” marking Malaysia’s assumption of the ASEAN chair for 2025.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the chair of ASEAN 2025, called on ASEAN countries to establish a new partnership and deepen regional ties amid rising protectionism and changing global supply chains. He stressed that “resilience depends on adaptability, and ASEAN must not remain static.”.
Ibrahim highlighted efforts to upgrade the trade-in-goods agreement to create a more competitive regional market and expand the ASEAN Power Grid (APG) with a new financing mechanism to close funding gaps and accelerate the transition to clean energy.
The Prime Minister also noted that ASEAN’s digital economy is projected to reach $2 trillion by 2030, with work on a Digital Economy Framework Agreement set to accelerate by 2026.
The summit, which will continue until October 28, will host discussions with more than 30 global leaders from the United States, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, to discuss regional peace, economic resilience, and inclusive growth.
