ASEAN’s 46th Summit in Kuala Lumpur: Charting a Bold Future with ASEAN 2045 and Global South Unity

Kuala Lumpur hosted the 46th ASEAN Summit concluding with a royal gala dinner on May 27, 2025, marking a pivotal moment for regional cooperation.

46th ASEAN Summit
46th ASEAN Summit (Photo credit: Asean)

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.

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