[YAB PM to deliver opening remarks.]
Your Majesty,
ASEAN Heads of State and Government,
Guests of the Chair,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my honour to welcome all of you to the Plenary Session of this Summit.
At the outset, allow me to express the deepest condolences of the ASEAN family on the passing away of Queen Sirikit, The Queen Mother of Thailand.
I am pleased to welcome His Excellency Xanana Gusmão, Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, to his first full-fledged ASEAN Summit. Today marks a historic milestone in our regional journey with Timor-Leste’s admission as ASEAN’s eleventh member.
It is also my pleasure to welcome the Guests of the Chair to this Plenary Session:
· The Right Honourable Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada;
· His Excellency António Costa, President of the European Council; and
· Madam Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund.
Your Majesty, Excellencies,
Malaysia has had the privilege of chairing ASEAN this year under the theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability.” It comes at a defining moment as we confront regional challenges, geopolitical uncertainty, and growing geoeconomic fragmentation.
To strengthen our economic foundations, we are trading more among ourselves, investing more in one another, and advancing integration across sectors. The upgraded ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) is a decisive step forward.
ASEAN’s resilience rests on openness – on the free flow of trade, capital, and people. The signing of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area 3.0 on 28 October will mark a new chapter in our partnership, demonstrating shared commitment to fair trade, digital transformation, and sustainable energy.
Beyond the ASEAN+1 frameworks, we are accelerating the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, the world’s largest free-trade pact. Malaysia will host the 5th RCEP Leaders’ Summit tomorrow to give new momentum to its implementation.
With that, I have the honour to declare the Plenary Session open.
[YAB Prime Minister to strike the gavel]
May I now request members of the media to kindly leave the room.
Terima Kasih. Thank you.
--BERNAMA
