RIUH X ASEAN 2025 Becomes The Region's 'Cross-cultural Hub'

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 (Bernama) – The RIUH X ASEAN 2025 Festival has become the largest “cross-cultural hub” in the region, bringing together arts, music, food, and the regional creative community on a single high-impact platform.

The Deputy Secretary-General (Strategic Communications and Creative Industry) of the Ministry of Communications, Nik Kamaruzaman Nik Husin, said the festival is not merely an entertainment event but a platform for cultural integration and the creative economy that strengthens the bonds within the ASEAN community.

“RIUH X ASEAN is a regional platform that brings together more than 150 creative practitioners with over 300 creative activities, workshops, exhibitions, and musical performances.”

“Here, the elements of art, food, gastronomy, and community unite to foster appreciation and collaborative creative networking. This is the spirit of ASEAN solidarity that we are implementing through the ASEAN Summit,” he said during an Exclusive Interview programme produced by Bernama Radio, today.

He added that this year’s edition aligns with the ASEAN 2025 theme, “Inclusivity and Sustainability”, which is reflected through various arts, cultural, and community engagement programmes.

RIUH X ASEAN 2025 is being held from Oct 17 to Nov 2 at various locations around Kuala Lumpur, including Stadium Merdeka, GMBB Creative Mall, Audience KL, and Town House Terrace.

He said the festival also features various main segments that reinforce the “cross-cultural hub” concept, including the FrequenSea ASEAN Music Conference at GMBB, which was the first ASEAN music conference in Malaysia, held on Oct 21 and 22.

Among other main events is the RIUH X ASEAN Marketplace, which will be held from Oct 24 to 26 at Stadium Merdeka, featuring more than 60 retail and F&B brands from Malaysia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Brunei, and Indonesia.

Nik Kamaruzaman said the Marketplace, which is jointly organised with QSR Brands as the official co-host and Merdeka 118 as the official venue sponsor, targets more than 30,000 visitors throughout the event.

In addition, the festival highlights elements of comedy, literature, and visual arts, such as Panggung Gelak, Lead Connect, SEA Slam, and the Riuh Gallery Suara Belacu at Audience KL.

He said RIUH X ASEAN also serves as a continuation of the success of 85 previous Riuh editions, which recorded over a million visitors and more than 10,000 creative practitioners, generating an economic value exceeding RM10 million.

-- BERNAMA