KUALA LUMPUR: The curtain came down on the 47th Asean Summit and Related Summits today with Malaysia officially handing over the Asean chairmanship to the Republic of the Philippines.
It marks the end of a year that saw major milestones in regional cooperation and diplomacy.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim symbolically passed the Asean gavel to Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, whose country will assume the chairmanship beginning Jan 1, 2026.
In his closing remarks, Anwar reflected on Asean’s resilience and enduring relevance amid a rapidly changing world.
“In today’s world, where constancy is a rare virtue, Shakespeare warns us against being passions’ slaves and urges us to be governed by reason. To be steadfast amid the stirrings and frenzies of the hour.
“That must be Asean’s way if we are to endure,” he said.
Anwar said that Asean continues to stand as a platform for dialogue and cooperation, even amid global uncertainty.
“We take quiet satisfaction in seeing conversations unfold among partners and powers beyond these walls.
“We revive dialogues, build new bridges, and prove that Asean’s mission, when guided by patience and reason, still works,” he said.
He said that no single chairmanship or administration could solve every regional challenge, but persistence and unity would ensure progress.
“No chairmanship, not even a generation, can right every wrong.
“Some crises will persist, some lives remain shadowed by fear and want — yet history seldom leaps.
“It bends slowly through the will, labour, and sheer stubbornness of those who refuse to despair.”
He praised his fellow Asean leaders for their perseverance, saying their collective courage and steady commitment had helped move the region closer to hope and justice.
Anwar also conveyed a message of confidence and friendship to Marcos Jr as he assumes the chairmanship.
“To my friend, ‘Bongbong,’ I wish you every success as you assume this responsibility,” he said.
“Under your steady hand, I am confident Asean will continue to act with clarity, composure, and the warmth and poise for which the Filipino people are known.”
He then quoted Philippine national hero Jose Rizal to underscore the importance of shared ideals in regional cooperation.
“As Jose Rizal wrote in El Filibusterismo, it is a useless life that is not consecrated to a great ideal.
“It is like a stone wasted on the field without becoming part of any edifice.”
Anwar also thanked Malaysian officials, volunteers, and frontliners for their service throughout the year, saying their dedication had showcased the best of Malaysia to the world.
The summit concluded with the adoption of numerous outcome documents, trade deals and landmark agreements.
Among this year’s defining moments was the formal admission of Timor-Leste as Asean’s 11th member — the bloc’s first expansion since 1999 — following the nation’s 14-year wait for membership.
Another major highlight came during the Asean–United States Summit, which drew global attention as US President Donald Trump visited Malaysia and returned to Southeast Asia, reaffirming trade and security ties with the region and announcing the Malaysia–US Reciprocal Trade Agreement.
The summit also saw the historic signing of the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord between Cambodia and Thailand to ease border tensions.
The accord, brokered by Malaysia and witnessed by Anwar and Trump, marked a breakthrough ceasefire — a major step toward lasting stability in mainland Southeast Asia.
Additionally, leaders adopted the ‘Asean Vision 2045: Our Shared Future’ — a strategic roadmap for the next two decades that will guide the bloc’s development in the post-2025 era toward a more inclusive, connected, and sustainable community.
This was Malaysia’s fifth time leading Asean since the bloc’s establishment in 1967, following its previous chairmanships in 1977, 1997, 2005, and 2015.
