Several World Leaders State Commitment To Attend 47th ASEAN Summit- PM Anwar

PUTRAJAYA, July 21 (Bernama) -- Several world leaders including those from Asia, Europe, Canada, the United States, Africa and Latin America are expected to attend the 47th ASEAN Summit scheduled to be held in Kuala Lumpur this October, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Speaking at the Prime Minister's Meeting with the Prime Minister's Department staff here today, Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, said that so far, among those who have expressed their commitment to attend are leaders from Italy, the European Union, Canada and the United States.

"It (the ASEAN Summit) will be a major international conference for Malaysia," he said.

On July 8, Anwar said several heads of government from outside ASEAN had confirmed their attendance at the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits scheduled to be held from Oct 26 to 28.

Among the leaders who have confirmed their attendance are Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, whom Anwar met in Rome on July 3, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who currently holds the position of President of the G20 Group.

Anwar also stressed that his visit abroad was in Malaysia's capacity as ASEAN Chairman this year, apart from fulfilling invitations from several world leaders.

"I am among the Prime Ministers who have travelled abroad the most. Coincidentally, Malaysia is ASEAN Chairman this year," he said

Expressing confidence in the services of civil servants including the national security forces based on the excellent performance shown during the recent ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and ASEAN-China Summits, Anwar is confident that the ASEAN Summit in October will be held successfully.

“If you look at the performance (of the services) of civil servants, police, Immigration Department and airports at ASEAN-GCC and ASEAN-China, I am confident in our ability to provide the best for our country,” he said.

Anwar said the confidence was based on Malaysia's improved ranking in the World Competitiveness Report by the Institute for Management Development (IMD), from 34th in 2024 to 23rd in 2025.

The Prime Minister said the improvement in ranking also reflected the international community's confidence in Malaysia's administrative capabilities, thus giving a positive signal ahead of the 47th ASEAN Summit.

The 46th ASEAN Summit held in Kuala Lumpur in May also featured the second ASEAN GCC as well as the first-ever ASEAN-GCC-China Summit.

Malaysia as the 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship with the theme 'Inclusivity and Sustainability' hosted the 46th ASEAN Summit and related meetings from 22 to 27 May.

-- BERNAMA