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14h ago

ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur Draws Dozens of Leaders as Peace Deal, Trade Push Take Center Stage

The summit doubles as a test of ASEAN’s ability to turn convening power into results.

The logo of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is pictured in front of Malaysia's Petronas Twin Towers ahead of the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
Motorists stop at a traffic light next to the logo of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in front of Malaysia's Petronas Twin Towers ahead of the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
A woman holds a photograph of Thailand's Queen Mother Sirikit, 93, as people react following the announcement of her death, outside King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, October 25, 2025. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha
A man walks in front national flags of member nations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) ahead of the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Overview

  • More than 30 heads of state are set to attend from Oct 26–28, including U.S. President Donald Trump, with foreign ministers opening preparatory talks Saturday.
  • Timor-Leste will be formally welcomed as ASEAN’s 11th member after applying in 2011.
  • An expanded Thailand–Cambodia ceasefire is expected to be signed with Trump slated to preside, following July border clashes that killed at least 43 and displaced about 300,000 before a July 29 truce.
  • Leaders will revive an RCEP heads-of-government meeting for the first time since 2020 and sign an upgraded ASEAN–China trade pact as U.S. tariffs weigh on regional economies.
  • Authorities have tightened security in Kuala Lumpur ahead of planned protests over Trump’s visit, and ASEAN officials pressed Myanmar to implement the Five-Point Consensus and allow humanitarian aid as debate continues over December elections and observer participation.