From October 26 to 28, Kuala Lumpur will host the summit of Southeast Asian leaders. Several prominent figures from partner countries and major global powers will also attend — including Donald Trump. Here are the key points on the agenda.
By Tommaso Magrini
The upcoming ASEAN Summit, to be held from 26 to 28 October under Malaysia’s presidency in 2025, is shaping up to be one of the most significant events for the political, economic, and strategic future of Southeast Asia. It is not merely a meeting of heads of state but a moment when the ten member countries (with Timor-Leste awaiting full membership) will define the course toward the ambitious goal of “ASEAN 2045” — a vision of deeper, more sustainable, and more autonomous regional cooperation on the global stage.
According to the Malaysian government, the summit will conclude with the adoption of 84 outcome documents, a number that reflects the intention to translate discussions into concrete commitments. But beyond this impressive figure, what truly matters is whether these documents will mark real progress or remain, as often happens, a collection of well-meaning declarations lacking binding implementation mechanisms.
Malaysia has sought to give its presidency a distinctive mark by overcoming the traditional divide between economic and diplomatic policymaking. For the first time, foreign and economic ministers from member states will meet jointly to coordinate their agendas before presenting them to the heads of state. This is a significant step, as ASEAN has often struggled with coherence between its economic and political dimensions: while commercial integration has advanced, a common foreign policy has often been hampered by internal divisions and diverging national interests.
Another central topic will be the ecological transition. During the summit, a meeting of the so-called ASEAN Zero Emission Community will take place, involving external partners such as Australia and Japan. The goal is to promote joint projects to accelerate decarbonization in the region — a particularly tough challenge in an area where many countries still depend heavily on fossil fuels, and where economic growth often clashes with environmental objectives. It will be interesting to see whether the summit can move from principles to practice, introducing concrete initiatives with shared funding, technical cooperation plans, and a credible roadmap toward net-zero emissions.
On the economic front, Malaysia also aims to strengthen ASEAN’s trade relations with its main partners. Among the most anticipated topics are the update of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (version 3.0) and the expansion of cooperation with the United States. China remains ASEAN’s largest trading partner, but the growing strategic rivalry between Beijing and Washington forces Southeast Asian nations to perform a delicate balancing act. The summit will thus serve as a test to see whether ASEAN can maintain what some call “active neutrality” — the ability to benefit from relations with both powers without taking sides.
Another key issue will be the integration of Timor-Leste, which has been granted observer status but has yet to become a full member. The final admission of this small state poses logistical, economic, and political challenges, as its level of development is far below the ASEAN average. Yet it also carries symbolic weight: it represents a further opening of the community and a reaffirmation of ASEAN’s principle of inclusivity. The summit could define a clear timeline and framework for Timor-Leste’s full membership, strengthening ASEAN’s identity as a region based on solidarity and cooperation.
Malaysia’s presidency has also announced that the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) will be central to discussions. First signed in 1976, this document forms the legal foundation of relations among ASEAN member states and reaffirms the organization’s core principles: respect for sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs, and the peaceful resolution of disputes. The renewed emphasis on these principles comes at a delicate time, marked by growing tensions in the South China Sea, where countries such as the Philippines and Vietnam are at odds with China over territorial claims. It is likely that ASEAN will once again seek to strike a balance — reaffirming international law while avoiding positions that could threaten internal unity or antagonize Beijing.
One element expected to draw global attention is the presence of foreign leaders, underscoring the summit’s growing geopolitical importance. Among the most anticipated guests is Donald Trump, who, having returned to the White House, appears determined to reassert the United States’ role in the Indo-Pacific. According to diplomatic sources, Trump is expected to attend the signing of a bilateral agreement between Thailand and Cambodia, aimed at definitively settling border disputes and boosting cross-border economic cooperation. His presence, alongside that of other leaders — including the prime ministers of Japan, India, and Australia — will give the summit an unprecedented international profile, highlighting Southeast Asia’s central role in the emerging global balance. The signing of the Thailand–Cambodia agreement, in particular, will serve as a test of ASEAN’s ability to act as both mediator and guarantor of regional stability.
The summit will therefore have a strong diplomatic dimension. All ASEAN leaders and their dialogue partners are expected to attend in Kuala Lumpur, Italian’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni included. Malaysia intends to use the opportunity to reaffirm ASEAN’s role as a global actor, not merely a regional platform. In an international context marked by strategic rivalries, wars, and trade tensions, Southeast Asia seeks to position itself as a zone of stability — capable of mediating and defending a multipolar order founded on dialogue.
However, expectations must be tempered by ASEAN’s structural limits. The organization operates on the principles of consensus and absolute respect for national sovereignty, meaning that every major decision requires unanimous approval. While this principle has prevented internal conflicts, it has often paralyzed collective action, making it difficult to adopt unified positions on sensitive issues. The risk, once again, is that the impressive number of adopted documents may result in a flood of solemn declarations with few concrete mechanisms, deadlines, or dedicated resources.
The real test of success will therefore be concreteness: how many of these 84 documents will include binding commitments, monitoring mechanisms, or detailed action plans? If Malaysia’s presidency manages to ensure even part of that, the summit could mark a turning point in regional governance. Otherwise, it risks becoming yet another diplomatic showcase.
Beyond the formal outcomes, observers will be watching closely to see whether ASEAN can strengthen its strategic autonomy. In an era when Southeast Asia lies at the heart of U.S.-China competition, member states are forced into a delicate balancing act between economic interests and geopolitical security. ASEAN’s ability to speak with a single voice will be crucial to preserving regional stability and preventing the bloc from splitting into opposing camps.
Ultimately, the 47th ASEAN Summit is expected to be more than a declaration of intent — it should be a test of political maturity. The region has grown economically; now it must prove that it can build a shared political identity. If the summit succeeds in giving new momentum to coordinated action on sustainability, trade, security, and governance, it could mark the beginning of a new phase for ASEAN, that could participate to shape the future world order.
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