Kuala Lampur, Oct. 23 -- The 47th Asean Summit takes place at a moment of unprecedented responsibility for Malaysia, which has held the Group Chairmanship of Asean and Related Summits since early 2025.

The tempo of regional engagement accelerated after the Asean Ministerial Meetings at the Langkawi Retreat on January 19, 2025, setting the tone for a year marked by ambition, urgency, and a reassertion of Asean's central role in the global order.

This renewed momentum is not accidental. In a world splintered by geopolitical rivalries, tariff wars, and technological fragmentation, world leaders are descending upon Asean because the region now represents one of the last functioning arenas of inclusive multilateralism. Asean remains a forum ...