The 46th ASEAN Summit, set to begin in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, will feature Myanmar’s crisis as a top priority agenda item, with the military council leader Min Aung Hlaing remaining barred from attendance while a lower-level military representative will participate instead. According to reports from Malaysia, the summit will address both regional and global issues, including increased US tariffs, the Myanmar situation, and South China Sea territorial disputes. The summit, themed ‘Inclusion and Sustainability,’ will be chaired by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim as the rotating ASEAN chair.
The two-day summit will bring together the 10 member states to discuss regional matters including economic cooperation, security, and sustainable development. Prime Minister Anwar has emphasized his focus on enhancing ASEAN cooperation, promoting regional economic interests, and boosting investment initiatives. The organization also plans to discuss building its financial funds and strengthening regional financial security. The summit marks a crucial moment for addressing pressing regional concerns and establishing stronger collaborative frameworks among member states.
Regarding Myanmar, discussions will center on humanitarian assistance, conflict mediation between relevant parties, and the implementation of ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus. The military council will be represented by a delegation led by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Aung Kyaw Moe. The summit will particularly focus on the lack of visible progress in stopping violence, initiating inclusive dialogue, and delivering humanitarian aid, while examining the effectiveness and limitations of the current engagement framework. This approach reflects ASEAN’s continued commitment to addressing the Myanmar crisis while maintaining its position of limiting the military council’s representation at high-level meetings.
