Anwar (right) and Trump during an expanded bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 47th Asean Summit and Related Summits on Oct 26. —Photos by BERNAMA
MALAYSIA’S tenure as Chair of the 47th Asean Summit and Related Summits drew to a triumphant close on Oct 28, and was hailed by regional and international leaders as a showpiece in diplomacy, pragmatism and inclusive leadership.
The overwhelming success of the summit, themed “Inclusivity and Sustainability”, was largely attributed to the finesse displayed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the diligent coordination efforts of the Foreign Ministry and the nation’s respective ministries.
The Prime Minister’s “soft diplomacy” approach not only balanced the regional bloc’s complex relations with the world’s great powers but also raised Malaysia’s credibility on the international stage.
Speaking on the admiration received from global leaders, Anwar recounted his interactions at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Economic Leaders’ Meeting in South Korea following the summit.
Mohamad Hasan said that Malaysia will continue to lend its full support towards strengthening and advancing the Asean community.
“President Xi Jinping conveyed his warmest congratulations to us on Asean’s success, as did nearly all the Apec leaders. I was deeply moved that leaders from the United States (US), China and even Mexico immediately expressed their admiration for Asean’s achievements,” he said.
He highlighted their curiosity about how Asean managed to balance the power of the US and China with that of other developing and emerging nations.
In posts on his official Facebook page, Anwar reflected on the constructive and frank discussions held during the summit.
“This is the spirit of Malaysia Madani; its people united, working sincerely, upholding trust and placing the nation’s dignity in the highest regard,” he said.
“The relationships established (during the summit) are not just a symbol of diplomacy, but a symbol of hope that this region can stand firmly on the foundation of peace, justice and shared prosperity.
“Throughout the year, the nation has led Asean with confidence, steering this region in the midst of world changes. Under the banner of unity and peace, we have revived dialogue, built new bridges and proven that the spirit of Asean continues to flourish, guided by wisdom, rationality and a common purpose.”
Anwar also thanked everyone involved for their efforts, signifying Malaysia’s stewardship of inclusivity and peace.
“I express my deepest gratitude to all those who have served with dedication; government and agency officials, security forces, volunteers, cleaning workers, the private sector, the media and all citizens who made this event a success with full responsibility and a spirit of patriotism,” he said.
“As this leadership is handed over to the Philippines, Malaysia looks back on this journey with gratitude. Not every impasse has been resolved, but every bold step made has bent the arc of history toward hope and justice. Therein lies the true strength of Asean, rooted in loyalty, inclusivity and mutual trust.”
A collective triumph
With the Foreign Ministry serving as the primary coordinating body, the summit concluded with an unprecedented 80 outcome documents, reinforcing the nation’s efforts in steering the regional bloc towards its ambitious Asean 2045 vision.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan echoed Anwar’s sentiments, highlighting the collaborative efforts of all Malaysians in making the summit a success.
“It was a massive collective effort that made both the 47th Asean Summit and Related Summits possible, and that supported Malaysia’s stewardship of Asean at every step of this meaningful journey,” he said.
Mohamad Hasan confirmed the summit’s administrative victories, highlighting the expected issuance of outcome documents, which demonstrated Malaysia’s commitment as Asean Chair to strengthening the regional community’s direction.
He also said that Malaysia will continue to lend its full support towards strengthening and advancing the Asean community.
“We have made history in this summit by expanding Asean’s scope to include our friends in Timor-Leste, a nation built on perseverance and hope. May our partnerships continue to flourish and may we face the future as one Asean community—united, resilient and ever stronger.”
The summit concluded with an unprecedented 80 outcome documents, reinforcing the nation’s efforts in steering the regional bloc towards its ambitious Asean 2045 vision.
Key achievements
Among the key highlights of the 47th Asean Summit was the breakthrough in economic relations with the US.
On the sidelines of the event, Anwar and US President Donald Trump signed the landmark Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) between the two countries. The deal included a commitment by the US to maintain a 19% tariff rate for Malaysia.
Furthermore, the two nations inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on critical minerals, with Malaysia committing to refraining from imposing quotas on exports of critical minerals or rare earth elements to the US.
Malaysia’s chairmanship also demonstrated its diplomatic prowess by shepherding the finalisation and signing of the Asean-China Free Trade Area Upgrade.
This agreement expands cooperation beyond traditional trade into modern areas such as digital and green economies, supply chain resilience and support for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Beyond trade, Malaysia secured indelible legacies in both peace-building and regional expansion.
The spirit of global reconciliation was demonstrated by the official signing of the peace agreement between Thailand and Cambodia during the summit, a process for which Malaysia was praised for facilitating.
Additionally, in another landmark moment, the summit also witnessed the formal welcome of the newest member of the Asean family, Timor-Leste, which officially became the 11th member of the bloc.
The country’s inclusion marks the expansion of the region’s scope to include every sovereign state in South-East Asia into the Asean community.
Timor-Leste officially applied for Asean membership over a decade ago in 2011. Previously, the last country to join Asean was Cambodia, which became the 10th member state in 1999.
The summit also cemented the focus on inclusivity and sustainability by advancing key green and connectivity projects.
These included the progress of the Asean Power Grid, to enhance regional energy security, as well as the launch of the Asean MSME Green Transition Centre.
The summit even expanded Asean’s reach into the world of sport through an impactful collaboration with the international football governing body, FIFA.
Its President, Gianni Infantino, was present to sign the MoU on regional football development and subsequently announced a new tournament: the FIFA Asean Cup.
The tournament, which will involve all 11 South-East Asian nations, is set to be held during the FIFA International Match Calendar to create a greater impact in the region.
Anwar, Mohamad Hasan and Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz posing for a group photo with members of the media after the event. — AZMAN GHANI/The Star
Purposeful, successful chairmanship
As the 47th Asean Summit concluded, Malaysia ceremoniously completed its stellar term.
This is the fifth time Malaysia has assumed the chairmanship since the bloc’s inception in 1967, with previous occasions occurring in 1977, 1997, 2005 and 2015.
The baton of leadership has been officially passed, with the Philippines set to take over as the next Asean Chair beginning Jan 1, 2026.
Malaysia’s chairmanship, managed with astute diplomacy and decisive action, will be remembered as a pivotal moment that successfully navigated complex geopolitical waters, delivered significant economic deals, fostered peace and expanded the Asean community.
