Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim opened the 47th ASEAN summit on Sunday and urged the group to adapt and cooperate amid rising protectionism and uncertain global trade.
Anwar warned that “rising protectionism and shifting supply chains remind us that resilience depends on adaptability.” He added that the world is facing “contestation and uncertainty” that test both economies and the belief that dialogue can still win.
The summit comes as the region battles deepening tariff wars that began when former U.S. President Donald Trump launched a wave of trade barriers. Trump will attend the meeting as an invited guest, and his presence is expected to dominate the agenda.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not come in person but will address the summit remotely.
Before the summit started, Timor‑Leste officially joined ASEAN, making it the 11th member country. The group – made up now of Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Brunei, Myanmar and Timor‑Leste – welcomes leaders from all over the world, including Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, as well as China’s Premier Li Qiang, Japan’s Foreign Minister Sanae Takaichi, Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Canada’s foreign minister, Mike Carney.
Anwar said that ASEAN must build new partners and deepen existing links, especially with BRICS and the G20, which is chaired by South Africa this year. He praised the culture of “consensus, open communication and solidarity” that has driven the group’s achievements.
In a world that is unpredictable, he urged ASEAN to strengthen its unity. He suggested reviving geostrategic platforms such as the Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality (ZOPFAN) and continuing to support key ASEAN‑led forums like the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN Regional Forum.
Source: ianslive
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