ASEAN Summit: RCEP And EAS Summits On Monday To Focus On Economic Integration, Strategic Cooperation

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 (Bernama) -- ASEAN leaders and dialogue partners will focus on strengthening regional economic integration and strategic cooperation during the Fifth Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Summit and the 20th East Asia Summit (EAS) here today.

Both summits, to be held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre here, will be the main highlights of a packed schedule on the second day of the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits under Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship 2025 theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability.”

The meetings are expected to chart new directions for trade, investment and regional stability amid a complex global environment.

According to the official tentative programme, the day will begin with the 26th ASEAN–Republic of Korea (ROK) Summit from 9.30 am to 10.30 am which would be attended by ASEAN heads of state and government, ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.

The ROK Summit will reaffirm cooperation in innovation, energy transition and youth exchange under the Korea–ASEAN Solidarity Initiative (KASI).

It will be followed by the 28th ASEAN Plus Three (ASEAN+3) Summit involving ASEAN, China, Japan and South Korea from 10.45 am to 12.15 pm.

Expected to attend are representatives from the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO), East Asia Business Council (EABC) and Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS).

At 12.30 pm, there will be a reception on the occasion of Timor-Leste’s admission to ASEAN to celebrate the bloc’s newest member, attended by ASEAN and dialogue partner leaders, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres, ministers and senior officials.

After the lunch, the RCEP Summit scheduled from 1.45 pm to 3.15 pm will gather the 15 participating economies, which contribute about 30 per cent or one-third of global gross domestic product.

Among the topics to be discussed are trade and investment, enhancing supply chain resilience and digitalisation.

At 3.30 pm, the EAS will kick off, bringing together ASEAN leaders with eight dialogue partners including China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Russia and the United States.

The day will continue with the 15th ASEAN–UN Summit from 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm, which is expected to focus on complementarity between the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

To top off the day, a gala dinner will be hosted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his spouse Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail at 9 pm.

The 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits from Oct 26 to 28 are set to be among the largest meetings in the bloc’s history.

-- BERNAMA