In the capital of Malaysia, the 46th summit of the Association of Southeast Asia (ASEAN) was opened, within the framework of which the leaders of the participating countries discuss current regional and global challenges.
The event takes place at the Coala-Lumpur Congress Center under the motto “inclusiveness and stability” and is dedicated to the 10th anniversary of ASEAN. On the first day of the summit, the participants took a traditional joint photo.
The picture captures: Laos Prime Minister Sonsai Siphandon, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Aun Zhuja Mo, Prime Minister Singapore Lawrence Wong, Prime Minister Thailandh Plainavat, Prime Minister Vietnam Fam Min Chin, Prime Minister Malaysia Anvaria Anvaria Anvaria Ibrahim, President Filippin Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Sultan Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah, Prime Minister Cambodia Hun Manet, President of Indonesia Prabovo Subianto and Prime Minister of East Timor Shanan Gusmao.
The summite’s agenda is a wide range of issues, including the consequences of the US trade policy, the crisis in Myanmar and tension in the South China Sea.
Speaking with an introductory speech, the Prime Minister of Malaysia and the current chairman Asean Anvar Ibrahim emphasized that the world trading system is faced with difficulties due to the “unilateral introduction of duties by the United States.” He said that he sent a letter to US President Donald Trump with a proposal to hold this year the Asean-Ssha summit to discuss this issue.
Anvar also noted that regional growth and prosperity are based on the principles of inclusiveness, the supremacy of law and free trade, but these achievements are now threatened. He expressed confidence that ASEAN will be able to cope with geopolitical challenges caused by the “arbitrary actions of large powers.”
The head of the Malaysian government called for strengthening cooperation with external partners and emphasized the strategic significance of the first Asean-Chinese summit of cooperation of the Arab states of the Persian Gulf (SSAGPZ), recalling that China remains the largest economic partner of the region.
As expected, the summit will end tomorrow by the signing of the Kuala-Lumpur Declaration on the topic “ASEAN 2045: Our General Future”.