(Kuala Lumpur, 23rd) The upcoming 47th ASEAN Summit, to be held from the 26th to 28th of this month in the capital, has been described as a historically significant meeting, as all 10 ASEAN country leaders have confirmed their attendance. The summit will also welcome leaders and representatives from all major continents around the world.
Previously attending as an observer, Timor-Leste has now officially become the 11th ASEAN member state and its leader has also confirmed attendance at this summit.
Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar stated that this summit has attracted high-level representatives from around the globe, including the United States, China, Japan, Russia, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, making it one of the largest international conferences ever hosted in Malaysia.
He responded today during the Minister's Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat to a question from PH Gombak MP Dato’ Seri Amirudin, saying: “Besides ASEAN leaders, the President of the World Bank, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office, the East Asia Business Council, and the Tripartite Cooperation Secretariat will also attend the summit.
“The Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), Gilbert Houngbo, as well as FIFA President Gianni Infantino, will also participate in special ASEAN sessions.”
Amirudin asked for the attendance list of national leaders and international organizations at the 47th ASEAN Summit, Malaysia's main achievements as the rotating ASEAN chair country, and the government's progress in final preparations for the summit.
ASEAN is composed of 10 member countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Anwar confirmed yesterday that Myanmar's Acting President, General Min Aung Hlaing, will not attend this summit.
Speaking about preparation progress, the Prime Minister said that tens of thousands of staff from various agencies are carrying out intensive preparations, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, the Prime Minister's Department, the Royal Malaysia Police, the Immigration Department and the Royal Customs Department.
“I also want to take this opportunity to express my highest gratitude to all staff, thanking them for their diligent and active preparations to ensure the summit proceeds smoothly and to present Malaysia in the best light.”
In addition, he pointed out that Timor-Leste's participation is the result of Malaysia's ongoing efforts to promote its formal accession to ASEAN.
“Although Timor-Leste is now an independent country, it was formerly part of Indonesia, so from a geopolitical perspective, it has always belonged to the ASEAN region. Malaysia played an important role in pushing forward its formal admission to ASEAN.”
He stated that the outcomes of this summit also demonstrate ASEAN’s continued efforts and the actions of relevant Malaysian government departments, especially in strengthening intra-ASEAN trade and the use of local currencies under the 'Chiang Mai Initiative.'
He said ASEAN’s economic relations have now been strengthened through several new agreements covering digital and energy sectors, further expanding cross-border cooperation among countries.
“In the energy sector, we have successfully signed agreements among Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia and Singapore, including interconnections from Sarawak to Indonesia, and from Sabah extending to the southern Philippines.”
Speaking about the summit venue, Anwar explained that the decision to choose Kuala Lumpur instead of Putrajaya was mainly based on logistics and security considerations, also taking into account the previous experience of hosting the ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit in the capital.
He is confident that Malaysia has the capability to fulfill this important task.