Kuala lumpur: Laos Foreign Affairs Minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane is among the earliest foreign diplomats to arrive in Malaysia ahead of the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits. He, along with his wife Vadsana Phomvihane, touched down at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) at approximately 8.25 pm this evening.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, earlier arrivals included his deputy, Phongsavanh Sisoulath, who landed at 7.50 pm. Other early arrivals were Cambodia’s Secretary of State Kung Phoak, who arrived at 2 pm, and Deputy Secretary-General for ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Satvinder Singh at 7.45 pm. Timor-Leste Vice-Minister of ASEAN Affairs Milena Rangel reached at 7.35 pm, while Brunei’s Permanent Secretary Johariah Wahab arrived at 8.25 pm.

Malaysia, which holds the ASEAN chairmanship this year under the theme ‘Inclusivity and Sustainability’, will host the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur from October 26 to 28. The summit will bring together leaders from the 10 ASEAN member states alongside key dialogue partners such as the United States, China, Japan, and India.

Expected to be the largest ASEAN gathering since its inception in 1967, the summit will welcome world leaders, including United States President Donald Trump, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Brazilian President Luiz In¡cio Lula da Silva, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.