ASEAN

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said looking ahead, the Philippines prepares to host the United Nations Tourism Global Forum on Gastronomy and the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2026 in Cebu, affirming the country’s leadership and resilience in shaping the future of tourism in the region.

Maybank noted that FDI metrics continued to improve in Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand in 2025, but slowed in Indonesia and the Philippines.

Delivering a speech at the Clean Energy Transition Asia (CETA) Summit 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Fadillah, who is also the energy transition and water transformation minister, said that the Southeast Asian region now drives more than half of the global energy demand.

ASEAN reiterated its call for the full implementation of an expanded and extended ceasefire throughout Myanmar, as reaffirmed by the ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on an Extended and Expanded Ceasefire in Myanmar issued on May 26 this year.

Malaysia remains ready to support efforts to de-escalate the situation, protect civilians, and help restore regional stability, in line with ASEAN's spirit of good neighbourliness.

Prime Minister of Timor-Leste Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão emphasised that becoming a member of ASEAN is “a dream comes true" for the people of Timor Leste, affirming that joining ASEAN marked a significant turning point, helping Timor Leste move towards the future and integrate into the broader regional community.

ASEAN is China’s largest regional trading partner, with close to 1 trillion USD, Indonesian Ambassador to China Djauhari Oratmangun said, hoping the figure to surpass 1 trillion USD by the end of the year.

Digital interconnectedness has become a vital economic and social infrastructure. The UBIN initiative reflects this vision, addressing longstanding barriers to cross-border trade and fostering trust among businesses to thrive in a seamlessly connected and competitive global economy.

Cargo volumes handled via the China-Laos Railway reached a record high of 4.506 million tonnes between January and October, up 12.8% year-on-year, China Media Group (CMG) has reported.

By advancing high-standard, mutually-recognised trade agreements with other blocs, ASEAN can position itself as a credible, competitive global partner.

Addressing the High-Level Thematic Dialogue at ASEAN–China Week 2025 in Fujian on November 17, Vietnamese Ambassador to China Pham Thanh Binh stressed that the ASEAN–China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has continued to expand in recent years, contributing to regional peace and stability.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China on October 28 formally signed an enhanced trade deal, as both sides seek to boost ties amid global uncertainties and trade tensions with the US.

“Time and again, ASEAN’s unity and centrality have guided us through challenges with resilience and determination,” Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Sugiono said at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Kuala Lumpur.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto called on ASEAN to consider deploying an observation team to Myanmar, underscoring the bloc’s role in promoting transparency and democratic accountability ahead of the country’s planned general elections in December, the Indonesian media reported.

Vietnam is increasingly seen as a strong potential driver within the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) thanks to its competitive strength in manufacturing and production, said a Malaysia-based scholar.

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.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Sugiono said Indonesia welcomed the adoption of the ASEAN Declaration on Combating Cybercrime and Online Fraud last September, describing this as a strong reflection of ASEAN’s commitment to safeguarding its digital space and regional security.

As one of the world’s largest regional blocs, ASEAN needs to take a firm stance in maintaining the rules-based multilateral trading system, thereby contributing to establishing the foundation for stability and shared prosperity, said a Malaysian official.

Under Malaysia’s chairmanship, the 47th ASEAN Summit will focus on key themes of regional cohesion, inclusiveness, and resilience.

Discussions have made significant progress since the first special AECC session held in August, reflecting the region’s strong commitment to advancing the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), one of Malaysia’s top economic priorities in 2025, said a Malaysian official.