PRIME MINISTER Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim urged Asia-Pacific leaders to prioritise dialogue over coercion and cooperation over confrontation as he opened the 20th East Asia Summit, highlighting the importance of multilateralism amid escalating tensions between the United States and China.
Addressing the summit, which brings together ASEAN and its key partners including the US, China, India, Japan, and Russia, AP cited Anwar saying: “Today we must renew our shared purpose, reassert our objectives, promote principles of forward-looking engagement.
“We continue to advocate for dialogue over coercion...and cooperation over confrontation. We affirm our stand on global peace and security, for multilateralism and international law.”
The summit follows US President Donald Trump’s visit to Malaysia and other Southeast Asian nations, during which several economic agreements were signed to strengthen trade ties and secure access to critical minerals, amid Washington’s efforts to reduce reliance on China. Analysts noted that regional supply chains, South China Sea tensions, and ASEAN’s handling of internal crises, particularly in Myanmar, were expected to dominate discussions.
Anwar also praised Trump’s Gaza peace plan, while emphasising that more must be done to achieve a just and lasting political solution for the Palestinian people.
He voiced concern over North Korea’s ballistic missile launches, stating that engagement should continue: “Once we call for engagement in all areas from Gaza to Ukraine to Myanmar, we should not preclude engagement with [North Korea].”
On Myanmar, Anwar reaffirmed ASEAN’s commitment to the 2021 Five-Point Consensus, stressing that peace and dialogue remain the primary means to resolve the ongoing civil war.
Regarding the South China Sea, he said territorial disputes should be addressed within ASEAN and with its regional partners, warning that outside pressure could escalate tensions.
Anwar’s leadership was also credited for facilitating the historic peace agreement between Thailand and Cambodia, signed during the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur.
Lawmakers praised Malaysia’s diplomatic role, noting that the agreement not only promoted regional stability but also elevated Malaysia’s status as a centre for international diplomacy.
In the Dewan Rakyat today, Selangor Chief Minister Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari highlighted the importance of regionalism in addressing inequalities and shaping a fairer future: “This is the moment for ASEAN to chart a future for regionalism that is more just for our people.” - October 27, 2025
