October 30, 2025
PETALING JAYA – The 47th Asean Summit and Related Summits, chaired by Malaysia, showcased unprecedented diplomatic achievements and effective deliverables, while balancing the competing pressures of regional interests and global dynamics, analysts said.
Danial Rahman, the Asian Strategy and Leadership Incorpo-rated (Asli) chief executive officer, said the summit was successful, creating a legacy with key outcomes and achievements.
“Top of mind was the emotional reaction of Timor-Leste’s delegation upon their nation’s ascension as a full Asean member after a 14-year journey.
“Then there was the KL Peace Accord (the Thailand-Cambodia peace pact) witnessed by none other than US President Donald Trump, who not only provided several viral moments, including his slick dance moves, but whose presence also signalled Asean’s importance for world powers.
“As the Chair of Asean, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has restored Asean’s gravitas as a key player for regional peace and stability, while reminding global leaders that there is a virtue behind Asean’s patience, engagements and consensus approach,“ he said when contacted yesterday.
The summit was by far the largest gathering of leaders in the region this year and signalled Malaysia’s ability to convene diverse powers.
It brought together nations entangled in tense situations, especially the arbitrary imposition of tariffs by the United States on almost all countries.
The historic visit of Trump to Kuala Lumpur for the first time reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to strengthen its security and economic cooperation with Asean and other Asian nations, underscoring its role as one of the grouping’s key dialogue partners despite the tariffs.
A notable highlight was the meeting between economic superpowers China and the United States, held amid heightened bilateral trade tensions as well as the KL Peace Accord, a Malaysia-brokered peace deal between Thailand and Cambodia, following border clashes earlier this year.
The agreement between Bangkok and Phnom Penh was signed in the presence of Anwar and Trump.
Anwar himself also went beyond Asean’s traditional boundaries and operationalised Asean’s theme of “Inclusivity and Sustainability” by inviting leaders from outside Asean and its dialogue partner countries.
They included the likes of Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who helms the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) grouping, and South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, who will host the Group of 20 (G20) Summit in Johannesburg in November.
Other notable leaders who attended the summit were China’s Premier Li Qiang, European Council President Antonio Costa, Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Timor-Leste’s Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao and President Jose Ramos-Horta, as well as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who attended virtually.
The Foreign Ministry serves as the primary coordinating body for the Asean chairmanship.
The summit was also the scene of a string of trade deals, including one that Malaysia sealed with the United States, upgrades to agreements, discussions on tariff-related matters and initiatives to further deepen regional integration.
Other flagship initiatives were the advancement of the Asean Power Grid as well as the upgrade of trade deals with China (ACFTA 3.0), India (Atiga) and among Asean states (Atiga).
Danial said with the ACFTA 3.0 and the upgraded Atiga, or Asean Trade in Goods Agreement, completed, Asean’s economic trajectory will likely drive regional and global economic growth in years to come.
“Expected enhanced trade collaborations with the EU, Canada and Australia suggest they too are eager for a slice of the growing pie,” he added.
Danial said Malaysia showcased its ability to host world-class events with a well-organised summit, with the civil service deserving praise for organising such a world-class event.
“Social media users were impressed by Malaysia’s roads and infrastructure – a reminder of the positive development this country has undergone.
“Undoubtedly, Asean centrality is at its strongest. We hope to see continued momentum as the Philippines takes the helm next year,” added Danial.
Universiti Teknologi Mara senior lecturer Dr Abdolreza Alami said the assessment of Malaysia’s 2025 Asean chairmanship and the outcomes of the summit require a dual-lens approach.
“First, an examination of the formal and tangible achievements; second, a critical analysis of the difficult balancing acts and subtle contradictions Kuala Lumpur was compelled to manage.
“Malaysia’s chairmanship, under the theme ‘Inclusivity and Sustainability’, is altogether registered as a successful and pragmatic period.
“Under the diplomatic leadership of Anwar, it both strengthened the bloc’s internal cohesion and solidified Asean’s standing among global powers,“ he said.
Abdolreza highlighted the series of deliverables that continues to demonstrate the country’s diplomatic credibility and Asean’s effectiveness, including the admission of Timor-Leste as Asean’s full member.
“This move – the bloc’s first expansion in over two decades – gave substance to Malaysia’s theme of ‘Inclusivity’ and demonstrated Asean’s commitment to completing the South-East Asian community,” Abdolreza added.
In terms of active mediation and strengthening centrality, Malaysia not only acted as host, but also took on the role of an “active mediator” in the region.
“A prime example was the successful mediation leading to the signing of the KL Peace Accord between Cambodia and Thailand to de-escalate border tensions.
“This action transformed ‘Asean Centrality’ from a theoretical concept into a practical reality for regional conflict resolution,” he said.
Under Malaysia, Asean also deepened economic and partnerships, including with various dialogue partners.
“This included elevating relations with New Zealand to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, declaring 2026 as the Asean-India Year of Maritime Cooperation,” Abdolreza said.
He said Malaysia’s success was not achieved without navigating complex challenges and managing the inherent contradictions of modern international politics including on the Gaza-Trump issue.
“The focal point of tension was the juxtaposition of hosting Trump with warm diplomacy against Malaysia’s staunch and principled stance in support of the Palestinian cause.
“Throughout the year, Malaysia was one of Asean’s strongest voices in condemning Israel’s actions.
“Malaysia’s success in bringing the US President to the summit (after repeated absences by Washington’s leaders) was a diplomatic victory affirming Asean’s importance,” Abdolreza added.
On Timor-Leste, Universiti Malaya’s Assoc Prof Dr Khoo Ying Hooi said Timor-Leste also brings opportunities for investment in agriculture and education.
“Its young demographic and strategic location between South-East Asia and the Pacific can play a role in enhancing Asean’s connectivity alongside a wider reach,” said Khoo, who is with the university’s Department of International and Strategic Studies.
Timor-Leste’s democratic resilience and post-conflict recovery experience, she said, adds moral weight to Asean’s ongoing efforts to promote peace and development through consensus.
She said the country’s entry into Asean can be seen as both symbolic and strategic.
“It renews Asean’s founding spirit of regional inclusivity, proving that the Asean family remains open and relevant to all South-East Asian nations.”
Khoo said the Asean membership similarly offers a critical platform for deeper integration into regional and global governance systems.
“It enables access to Asean’s development funds, technical assistance and market networks, which are all critical for a small economy seeking diversification beyond oil revenues,” she said.
Being part of Asean, Khoo said, also enhances Dili’s diplomatic capacity.
This would give the country a stronger voice and more structured engagement with major powers.
“Importantly, it also brings in a recognition of Timor-Leste’s statehood, stability and legitimacy after two decades of nation-building,” she said.
Khoo said the inclusion of Timor-Leste as an Asean member must be matched by sustained support.
“Asean’s challenge now is to ensure Timor-Leste’s membership is substantive and not just ceremonial,” she said.
Khoo said this comprises targeted capacity-building, particularly in governance, economic planning and education.
“For Timor-Leste, the task ahead is to strengthen institutions and human capital so that it can engage meaningfully, not just symbolically, within Asean,” she said.
Timor-Leste officially became Asean’s 11th member on Sunday.
It is a historic milestone for Dili, signifying the expansion of Asean’s reach to include every sovereign state in South-East Asia.
It had been a long journey for Timor-Leste, which officially applied for Asean membership way back in 2011.
The last country to join Asean before Timor-Leste was Cambodia, which became the 10th member on April 30, 1999.
This is the fifth time Malaysia has assumed the Asean Chair since the bloc’s inception in 1967, with the previous chairmanship in 2015, 2005, 1997 and 1977.
The annual event consists of the Asean Summit, the Asean Plus One Summits between Asean and seven dialogue partners, namely, Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Russia, the United States, as well as the Asean Plus Three Summit, East Asia Summit, Asean-United Nations Summit and Asean-New Zealand Commemorative Summit to mark 50 years of dialogue relations.
The summits are also the culmination of Malaysia’s Asean chairmanship this year before the Philippines assumes the next Asean chairmanship beginning Jan 1, 2026.