Two Historic Milestones To Highlight 47th ASEAN Summit - Amran

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 24 (Bernama) -- The 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, held at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre here, is living up to Malaysia’s Chairmanship theme of “Inclusivity and Sustainability”, said Foreign Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Amran Mohamed Zin.

He said this can be seen through two historic milestones that will be highlighted during the summit, namely the admission of Timor-Leste as ASEAN’s 11th member state and the 20th anniversary of the East Asia Summit (EAS).

Amran, who chaired the ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) today, said both milestones symbolise ASEAN’s enduring commitment to inclusivity and sustainability, which define Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship this year.

“The admission of Timor-Leste as ASEAN’s 11th member state epitomises inclusivity by expanding our ASEAN family to embrace a nation whose aspirations align with our shared values of peace and cooperation.

“Second, the 20th anniversary of the EAS stands as a testament to two decades of strategic dialogue and cooperation that have strengthened regional stability and reaffirmed ASEAN’s central role in shaping a peaceful and prosperous regional order,” he said in his opening remarks at the meeting, held ahead of the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits.

Amran said these milestones serve as a reminder that ASEAN’s strength lies in its ability to evolve while remaining anchored in its founding principles of unity, consensus and mutual respect.

He also expressed confidence that the SOM would produce meaningful recommendations for ASEAN leaders to consider during the summit, reinforcing the region’s collective vision for a more inclusive and sustainable future.

“As we (Malaysia) prepare to pass the gavel, we do so with pride in our collective achievements and deep confidence in the robust foundations we have laid together. Let us carry this same spirit of cooperation as we move toward the 47th ASEAN Summit and beyond,” he said.

The closed-door meeting was attended by SOM representatives from ASEAN member states, including Johariah Wahab (Brunei), Kung Phoak (Cambodia), Sidharto Reza Suryodipuro (Indonesia), Phongsavanh Sisoulath (Laos), Han Win Aung (Myanmar), Hellen B. De La Vega (Philippines), Albert Chua (Singapore), Eksiri Pintaruchi (Thailand) and Dang Hoang Giang (Vietnam).

Also present were Timor Leste’s SOM representative Milena Maria da Costa Rangel and deputy secretary-general of ASEAN for ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) Datuk Astanah Abdul Aziz.

As ASEAN Chair this year, Malaysia will host the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits from Oct 26 to 28, bringing together leaders from the 10 member states and dialogue partners, including the United States, China, Japan and South Korea.

-- BERNAMA