PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has expressed gratitude to all Malaysians and those involved in ensuring the success of the Asean Summit 2025, which marked several historic milestones, says his senior press secretary, Tunku Nashrul Abaidah.
Some of the key achievements include the official admission of Timor-Leste into Asean and the signing of the Kuala Lumpur Agreement between Thailand and Cambodia, said Tunku Nashrul.
“This stands as a testament to Malaysia’s commitment and active role in facilitating regional diplomacy in a peaceful and constructive manner,” he said during a live telecast on social media Wednesday (Oct 29).
According to Tunku Nashrul, the success of the summit was the result of the hard work and support of government agencies and all Malaysians.
“This summit has made its own mark in history and proven Malaysia’s credibility as Asean’s chair under the theme of inclusivity and sustainability.
“This summit also became the largest and most high-profile gathering of leaders, with 80 outcome documents adopted and approved.
“This includes the Asean Leaders’ Statements with the United States, Japan, India, New Zealand, and Australia, as well as the Asean+3 Summit.
He added that Malaysia also expressed its appreciation to the United States for its role in facilitating this dialogue and agreement.
“From an economic standpoint, the summit finalised two significant trade initiatives which was the enhancement of the Asean Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) and the Asean-China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA).
These agreements will provide greater market access, streamline procedures and pave the way for new economic opportunities in the digital and green sectors that benefit mainly the small and medium enterprises (SMEs), he said.
Tunku Nashrul said that in reaffirming Asean’s position as a rules-based region, leaders also reconfirmed the Five-Point Consensus as the main reference and urged its full implementation, particularly to stop violence and enhance humanitarian assistance in Myanmar.
“Leaders also exchanged views on issues concerning the South China Sea and Palestine, with Malaysia expressing its unwavering support for peace.
“They further discussed transnational threats such as online scams, food security and energy transition," he said.
Tunku Nashrul also conveyed Anwar's apologies for any shortcomings that may have occurred during the Asean Summit proceedings.
During the live telecast, he said that Malaysia also extended its full support to the Philippines, which will take over the Asean chairmanship in 2026.
According to Tunku Nashrul, Anwar will head to Parliament first on Thursday (Oct 30) morning before departing to Gyeongju, South Korea for his diplomatic work later.
“The prime minister will be attending the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM) in Gyeongju, which will commence from Oct 30 to Nov 1.
“There he will emphasise the importance of inclusivity in strengthening supply chains, advancing the digital economy and promoting sustainable development.
“He will also highlight Malaysia’s resilience in driving digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI) innovation," he said.
The visit will also serve as an opportunity to meet with top industry leaders and discuss potential investment opportunities and strategic partnerships with the South Korea, said Tunku Nashrul.
