Kuala Lumpur hosted the 46th ASEAN Summit concluding with a royal gala dinner on May 27, 2025, marking a pivotal moment for regional cooperation.
Led by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, summit united Southeast Asian leaders, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) representatives. And Chinese Premier Li Qiang to tackle pressing issues: Myanmar’s political crisis, Gaza’s humanitarian situation, and U.S. unilateral tariffs.
Historic ASEAN-GCC-China trilateral meeting, held for the second time, underscored a new geopolitical platform. Blending ASEAN’s dynamic markets, GCC’s energy prowess, and China’s manufacturing and tech might.
A landmark achievement was the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future, signed by leaders of all 10 ASEAN nations. This roadmap pledges a peaceful, stable, inclusive, and sustainable ASEAN by 2045 emphasizing inclusive economies. Digital transformation, green investment, regional security and human resource development. Anwar described it as a guiding vision to redefine ASEAN’s identity, not just a policy statement.
Summit also addressed U.S. tariffs ranging from 10% to 49%, threatening ASEAN exports. Leaders pushed for stronger intra-regional trade and alternative frameworks to counter protectionism. Aligning with China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Kuwait’s Vision 2025.
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Analysts hail the trilateral platform as a historic shift for the Global South, creating a counterbalance to Western trade policies. By fostering South-South cooperation, ASEAN aims to secure economic resilience and global relevance, setting a new tone for multipolar diplomacy.
