Malaysia to Host Largest-Ever ASEAN Summit in October, Confirms Anwar Ibrahim
Rio de Janeiro, The Gulf Observer: The 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, scheduled to take place in Kuala Lumpur from October 26 to 28, is poised to be one of the most significant gatherings in ASEAN’s history, Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced on Monday.
Speaking at a press conference in Rio de Janeiro at the conclusion of his official visits to Italy, France, and Brazil, Prime Minister Anwar revealed that several prominent global leaders outside the ASEAN grouping have already confirmed their attendance, signaling the summit’s expanding international profile.
Among the confirmed participants are Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, whom Anwar met in Rome on July 3, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who currently holds the rotating presidency of the G20. Newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has also confirmed his participation.
“This reflects how the October ASEAN Summit will likely be more vibrant than any previously held — not only involving ASEAN and our regular dialogue partners such as Japan, South Korea, and China, but also many others,” Anwar stated. “I believe it will be a major undertaking… God willing, we will be able to shoulder it together.”
The upcoming summit will bring together leaders from the 10 ASEAN member states — Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam — along with traditional partners such as Australia, Canada, China, the European Union, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, and the United States.
President Lula da Silva officially confirmed his attendance during the opening of the BRICS Business Forum in Rio de Janeiro on July 5. He urged Brazilian business leaders to prepare for engagement during the summit, emphasizing its importance as a major regional economic and diplomatic platform.
The 46th ASEAN Summit, held in Kuala Lumpur in May, included the second ASEAN–Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit and the inaugural ASEAN–GCC–China Summit. With high-level interest growing among new global players, the 47th Summit is expected to expand on this momentum by deepening multilateral engagement, fostering new partnerships, and enhancing ASEAN’s global standing.
The Malaysian government is preparing extensively to ensure the summit’s success, with Prime Minister Anwar expressing confidence in ASEAN’s collective ability to host a high-impact and inclusive event on the world stage.
