Kuala Lumpur, Oct. 28 -- The East Asia Summit (EAS) on Monday adopted a landmark Leaders' Statement on Promoting Localization in Anticipatory Action for Disaster Preparedness and Response, reaffirming the collective commitment of participating countries to strengthen local capacities and community resilience against disasters.

The statement was adopted during the 20th East Asia Summit held on October 27, 2025, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, under Malaysia's ASEAN Chairmanship. It recognises the growing complexity of global disaster risks, driven by environmental threats, rapid urbanisation, and socio-economic challenges that heighten the impact of disasters.

The leaders recalled earlier commitments, including the 2009 Cha-am Hua Hin Stateme...