The Official (and Unofficial) Agenda of the ASEAN Summit

Written By: Michelle Yang

The 47th meeting of The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Malaysia took place from October 26th to 28th amidst global economic uncertainty and shifting geopolitical alignments. The summit brought together ten core member states—Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam—along with various organizations and dialogue partners including the U.S., China, Japan, Australia, India, Russia, and Korea.

This year’s summit focused on the induction of ASEAN’s 11th member state, Timor-Leste (a former province of Indonesia). It also oversaw the negotiation of the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord between Cambodia and Thailand and renewed commitments to economic plans like the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade agreement and advancements toward a green and circular economy. Leaders also addressed the limited progress of the Five-Point Consensus regarding Myanmar’s ongoing civil war, reaffirming its importance and pledging continued aid. Despite the commitment, ASEAN’s tangible impact in Myanmar remains uncertain.

Much diplomacy occurred outside of the official agenda as well. Since its inception during the Cold War—a period marred by instability—ASEAN has been no stranger to navigating political tension. Recently, that resilience has been tested by the U.S.-China rivalry as both compete for influence in the region, with China offering a trade deal as buffer against President Donald Trump’s tariffs and the U.S. threatening economic sanctions if the peace-treaty between Cambodia and Thailand fails. Faced with repercussions, ASEAN states will be pressured to pick sides.