Kuala Lampur, Nov. 1 -- It's not a stretch to say that the 47th Asean Summit and its related meetings were the most consequential - and successful - in our region's history.

Last week, Malaysia played host to virtually the entire world, when political, business and civil society leaders from Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania descended on Kuala Lumpur.

Our well-attended Asean Summit bucked global trends. In a time of fragmentation, it was a feat to see the US, China, India, Russia, Brazil, South Africa and other countries congregate in our capital. It's a timely reminder of Asean's continued relevance not only as a bloc, but also as a neutral platform of engagement, and a convenor of major economies.

Understandably, Donald ...