ASEAN Summit: Timor-Leste's Official Admission, Trump's Visit To Highlight Day One
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 26 (Bernama) -- Timor-Leste’s official admission into ASEAN and United States President Donald Trump’s maiden visit to Malaysia are set to be the historic highlights of the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) today.
Following several days of senior officials’ and ministerial-level meetings, the summit, to be chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, will convene with an opening ceremony scheduled at 8.30 am.
Leaders of all ASEAN member states, together with Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao, as well as guests of the ASEAN Chair and other invited dignitaries will attend the ceremony.
The signing of the Declaration on the Admission of Timor-Leste into ASEAN will take place during the ceremony, marking its formal entry as the regional bloc’s 11th member state.
The 47th ASEAN Summit will comprise plenary and retreat sessions, with the plenary session addressing ASEAN Community-building, regional integration, economic growth and external relations.
The retreat will focus on reviewing the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus on Myanmar and exploring ways to address the ongoing political and humanitarian crisis, along with other regional and global issues of mutual concern.
Meanwhile, Trump’s visit marks his first trip to Asia in his second presidential term and the first visit to Malaysia by a US President since Barack Obama’s a decade ago.
The President is scheduled to hold an expanded bilateral meeting and signing ceremony with Anwar, and attend the 13th ASEAN-US Summit and a working dinner with ASEAN leaders.
Another highlight for today will be the expected signing of an expanded ceasefire agreement between Cambodia and Thailand concerning their decades-old border dispute, scheduled to be witnessed by Anwar and Trump.
In addition to several bilateral meetings, today’s programme also includes the 28th ASEAN-Japan Summit, the 22nd ASEAN-India Summit, and the third Asia Zero-Emission Community (AZEC) Leaders’ Meeting.
On the economic front, there will be a handover ceremony of the Second Protocol to Amend the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) and Dinner of Bloomberg Business Summit at ASEAN.
The 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits from Oct 26 to 28, under Malaysia’s ASEAN 2025 Chairmanship theme of “Inclusivity and Sustainability”, is set to be one of the largest meetings in the bloc’s history.
-- BERNAMA
