KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 — The 47th Asean Summit, held in Kuala Lumpur, stands out as a landmark event marked by historic achievements and the presence of numerous world leaders, said Asean secretary-general Kao Kim Hourn in a recent interview with CNBC.
Reflecting on the summit’s significance, Kao noted that it had been a particularly challenging year, not only for Asean but also for the world at large.
He praised Malaysia’s leadership, saying the country had done an outstanding job in addressing a number of key issues and challenges.
“One of the most notable achievements during the summit was the historic admission of Timor-Leste as Asean’s 11th member — a milestone nearly 14 years in the making.
“Yesterday was the historic milestone admission, so that’s the first very important achievement under Malaysia’s chairmanship of Asean,” he said.
Kao also highlighted the signing of the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord between Cambodia and Thailand as a crucial step towards ensuring peace in the region.
He emphasised that the accord “is very significant in terms of ensuring that we have peace and stability in the region.”
The Asean Summit also saw the attendance of US President Donald Trump, marking a noteworthy moment in Asean-US relations.
Commenting on the enduring partnership between Asean and the United States, Kao said Trump‘s presence in Kuala Lumpur for the 13th Asean-US Summit was significant, underscoring the strengthening of this comprehensive strategic partnership.
Despite these advances, Kao acknowledged that challenges remain — particularly concerning Myanmar’s absence from the summit.
Speaking on Asean’s engagement with Myanmar, Kao said the organisation had been pursuing quiet diplomacy.
“We have the role as chair and the special envoy, and have been working on this since Brunei,” he said, describing the situation in Myanmar as “very complex” and stressing the importance of continued engagement to reduce violence.
“Myanmar has been represented at the 47th Asean Summit but at a non-political representative level,” he added.
The 47th Asean Summit and Related Summits, held under Malaysia’s 2025 Asean Chairmanship theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability”, run from today until October 28 and are expected to be among the largest gatherings in the regional organisation’s history.
