Kuala Lumpur to Host ASEAN Summit: Agenda Highlights

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The ASEAN High-Level Conference, or ASEAN Summit, will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on October 26–28, 2025. This annual gathering will convene heads of state and government from all ASEAN member countries, including the newly inaugurated Prime Minister of Thailand.

President Prabowo Subianto is scheduled to attend the summit to represent Indonesia in the regional discussions and diplomatic engagement.

"The attendance is at the level of heads of state and heads of government; so far, the information we've obtained is that all ASEAN members will attend," said Sidharto R. Suryodipuro, Director General of ASEAN Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during a press conference in Central Jakarta on Wednesday, October 22, 2025.

Series of Meetings and Key Agenda Items

Sidharto explained that the series of preliminary meetings will begin on October 24 with a ministerial-level consultation. "The first one, on the afternoon of October 24, is the Expanded Informal Consultation on the Implementation of the Five-Point Consensus (5PC)," he said.

The consultation will focus on implementing the 5PC regarding the situation in Myanmar. This consensus includes the cessation of hostilities, the provision of humanitarian assistance, the appointment and visit of a special envoy, and inclusive dialogue. "This is all a path toward the return of stability in Myanmar. In 5PC, there is no discussion of changes," he explained.

Additionally, on October 25, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting will take place.

Regional Issues and Membership

Sidharto detailed that the 47th ASEAN Summit will cover various critical issues, ranging from the situation in Myanmar to the South China Sea dispute. "The South China Sea and Myanmar are still the main discussions. There will be special meetings," he noted.

On the peak day of the summit, Sunday, October 26, ASEAN leaders will attend the opening ceremony, followed by the signing of the declaration for the admission of Timor-Leste as the 11th member of ASEAN.

"Previously, at the foreign minister level, Timor-Leste submitted the instrument of accession, so at this time, it's the joint declaration," Sidharto said.

At the 46th ASEAN Summit in Malaysia, President Prabowo also pushed for Timor-Leste to be admitted as a full member and initiated discussions on the future membership of Papua New Guinea.

Sidharto confirmed that the discussion on Papua New Guinea's membership is currently being assessed. "There is now a process underway at the level of officials and foreign ministers. The exact details will have a follow-up process," he stated. Furthermore, the 2025 Summit will also highlight the prevalence of transnational crimes, including online scamming and online gambling.

Economic Forum and Global Partners

During the upcoming three days of the summit, leaders will participate in plenary sessions, retreats, and meetings with partner countries such as Japan, India, the United States, South Korea, China, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

Several multilateral forums will also be held, including the ASEAN Plus Three Summit, the East Asia Summit, the RCEP Leaders' Summit, and the Asia Zero Emission Communities Meeting.

There will also be three major sideline events: the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit, the Bloomberg Business Summit, and the ASEAN Indo-Pacific Forum, involving businessmen, investors, and regional development partners.

According to Sidharto, host nation Malaysia has also invited seven honorary guests, including the President of Brazil, the President of South Africa, the Prime Minister of Canada, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, the President of the European Council, the Managing Director of the IMF, and the President of the World Bank.

The 47th Summit will also mark the end of Malaysia's chairmanship in ASEAN. At the closing ceremony, the Prime Minister of Malaysia will pass the chairmanship baton to the Philippines, which will host the next ASEAN Summit in 2026.

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