Friday 24/10/2025

Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,
 
Good morning, selamat datang and welcome back to Kuala Lumpur. It is my profound honor and distinct privilege to welcome all of you here again for the 47^th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits.
                                                                     
We convene today in the vibrant heart of our nation, for this pivotal Senior Officials’ Meeting in preparation for the 47^th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits.
 
This occasion holds special resonance as it marks the culmination of Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship, guided by the theme of Inclusivity and Sustainability.
 
This theme has shaped our efforts throughout the year, from advancing digital inclusion and sustainable supply chains to strengthening food security and resilience amid global challenges. Our work embodies ASEAN’s resolve to build a community that is equitable, dynamic, and future-ready.
 
As we approach the upcoming Summits, we will also celebrate two historic milestones that resonate deeply with our Chairmanship theme.
 
First, we will witness the admission of Timor-Leste as the 11^th Member State of ASEAN, a moment that epitomises inclusivity by expanding our ASEAN family to embrace a nation whose aspirations align with our shared values of peace and cooperation.
 
Second, the 20^th anniversary of the East Asia Summit (EAS), a testament to two decades of strategic dialogue and cooperation that have reinforced regional stability and ASEAN’s central role in shaping a peaceful and prosperous regional order.
 
These milestones remind us that ASEAN’s strength lies in its ability to evolve while remaining anchored in its founding principles of unity, consensus and mutual respect. 
 
I am confident that with the spirit of cooperation and mutual understanding that defines ASEAN, we will be able to prepare set of recommendations that our Leaders can take forward with confidence and purpose.
 
As we prepare to pass the gavel, we do so with pride in our collective achievements and deep confidence in the robust foundations we have laid together. Let us carry this same spirit of cooperation as we move toward the 47^th ASEAN Summit and beyond.
 
With that, I look forward to productive and meaningful discussions ahead.
 
Thank you. 

--BERNAMA