Timor-Leste becomes ASEAN’s 11th member as US President Donald Trump makes his first visit to Malaysia for the 47th ASEAN Summit.
KUALA LUMPUR: Timor-Leste’s official admission into ASEAN and United States President Donald Trump’s first visit to Malaysia will be the historic highlights of the 47th ASEAN Summit’s opening day.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will chair the summit following several days of senior officials’ and ministerial-level meetings.
Leaders of all ASEAN member states will attend the opening ceremony alongside Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao.
The signing of the Declaration on the Admission of Timor-Leste into ASEAN will formally make it the regional bloc’s 11th member state.
The 47th ASEAN Summit will feature plenary and retreat sessions addressing ASEAN Community-building and regional integration.
The retreat session will review implementation of the Five-Point Consensus on Myanmar and address the ongoing political crisis.
Trump’s visit represents his first trip to Asia during his second presidential term and the first US presidential visit to Malaysia in a decade.
The US President will hold an expanded bilateral meeting with Anwar and attend the 13th ASEAN-US Summit.
Another key event will be the expected signing of an expanded Cambodia-Thailand ceasefire agreement witnessed by Anwar and Trump.
Today’s programme also includes the 28th ASEAN-Japan Summit and the 22nd ASEAN-India Summit.
The third Asia Zero-Emission Community Leaders’ Meeting will further highlight the day’s packed schedule.
Economic events include a handover ceremony for the Second Protocol to Amend the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement.
The summit will also feature the Dinner of Bloomberg Business Summit at ASEAN.
The 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits from October 26 to 28 operates under Malaysia’s “Inclusivity and Sustainability” theme.
This gathering represents one of the largest meetings in ASEAN’s history with numerous bilateral engagements planned. – Bernama
