Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – The 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits officially opened on October 26 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, bringing together more than 30 heads of state and government from bloc member countries and partners including China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Australia, the US, and Canada.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is leading the country’s delegation at the event.
Held from October 26 – 28, the event will see regional leaders discuss peace, economic resilience, and inclusive growth under the overarching theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability.”
The opening ceremony featured the presentation of the ASEAN Awards, recognising outstanding contributions to the building of the ASEAN Community. It also included the signing ceremony of the declaration admitting Timor-Leste as ASEAN’s 11th member, marking a symbolic step towards the unity and expansion of the bloc.
Following the ceremony, leaders witnessed the signing of the Second Protocol Amending the ASEAN Trade In Goods Agreement (ATIGA).
Over the coming days, ASEAN leaders will also take part in the ASEAN+3 Summit, the East Asia Summit (EAS), and a series of ASEAN+1 meetings with key dialogue partners, including the United Nations.
The event will conclude on October 28 with a closing ceremony and the handover of the ASEAN Chairmanship to the Philippines.
Prior to the official meetings, a series of preparatory sessions were held from October 23 – 25. This year marks the fifth time Malaysia has assumed the chairmanship since the bloc’s founding in 1967, with previous terms in 2015, 2005, 1997, and 1977./.
ASEAN Summit 47: Timor-Leste officially becomes ASEAN’s 11th member
Timor-Leste officially joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), becoming the bloc’s 11th member state at the 47th ASEAN Summit held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on October 26.
