Kuala Lumpur: ASEAN’s economy is projected to expand by 4.7 percent in 2025, as announced by Tengku Zafrul. However, he cautioned that this growth estimate is subject to downside risks due to uncertainties in the external environment, which need to be closely monitored.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Tengku Zafrul highlighted that ASEAN member states have reached a consensus on maintaining ASEAN neutrality. They continue to endorse the principle of multilateralism and emphasize the importance of engagement with the United States. He noted that each ASEAN member country would maintain its own stance regarding the US, welcoming bilateral engagements that have already taken place.

The 46th ASEAN Summit, occurring under Malaysia’s ASEAN 2025 Chairmanship with the theme ‘Inclusivity and Sustainability’, signifies Malaysia’s leadership in the regional bloc for the fifth time, following its previous chairmanships in 1977, 1997, 2005, and 2015. The summit aims to address numerous pressing regional and international issues, with particular focus on the ongoing crisis in Myanmar.

In addition to the primary ASEAN meetings, the summit will host two significant inter-regional platforms: the 2nd ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit and the inaugural ASEAN-GCC-China Summit. These events underscore the increasing engagement between Southeast Asia and its strategic partners in the Gulf and China.