KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 28 — Day Two of the 47th Asean Summit and Related Summits brought not only high-level talks but also lighter moments that stood out from the usual round of meetings between leaders.
While Day Two drew less scrutiny than the previous day — when US President Donald Trump‘s presence at the summit captured much of the spotlight — it still offered interesting moments that caught attention.
You get a sweet! Everyone gets a sweet!
Timor-Leste Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão has been making waves on social media after videos of his sometimes quirky antics at the Asean Summit began circulating on social media.
So much so that the 79-year-old’s popularity may well have rivalled the historic moment when his country was formally accepted as Asean’s 11th member on the first day of the summit.
Timor-Leste Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão giving out sweets to reporters. — Bernama pic
One example was Gusmão’s familiar gesture of offering sweets to nearby reporters-on-duty after a summit session ended, invoking the familiar generosity of Santa Claus with his white beard and moustache.
This was not the first time Gusmão had treated the media, as he made a similar gesture during the 46th Asean Summit in May.
A new octogenarian
While Asean leaders marked renewed cooperation and pledged to deepen regional ties in a changing geopolitical landscape, one leader found a more personal reason to celebrate.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who turned 80 on the second day of the regional summit, joked that he intended to live to 120-year-old but felt sad no one brought him presents.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva turned 80 on the second day of the regional summit. — Bernama pic
Still, a gala dinner held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, hosted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, made for a fitting celebration.
Trump‘s “yuge” praises for Malaysia
Trump‘s maiden visit to Malaysia and his first participation in an Asean Leaders’ Summit since beginning his second presidency concluded on a positive note, as the former businessman lavished praise on both the country and Anwar throughout his two-day stay.
Trump’s maiden visit to Malaysia concluded on a positive note, as the former businessman lavished praise on both the country and Anwar throughout his stay. — Reuters pic
Before leaving Malaysia, Trump hailed the nation as “a great, very vibrant country”, and in a lighter moment, remarked that Anwar’s signature was “very different… very good… very artistic” after the two leaders signed the US-Malaysia Reciprocal Trade Agreement on the first day of the summit.
Trump’s choice of words reflects the 79-year-old’s characteristic use of superlatives, a hallmark of his speaking style.
The beautiful game
Did you know that football is the most popular sport in the world, with nearly 3.5 billion fans globally?
During the summit, Fifa president Gianni Infantino unveiled a new regional football tournament dubbed the Fifa Asean Cup.
The competition will involve all 11 South-east Asian nations and will be held during the Fifa international match window.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim poses with a football during the launch of the Fifa Asean Cup at the Asean Summit. — Reuters pic
The new event will complement the biennial Asean Championship (formerly the AFF Cup) and aims to strengthen regional football competitiveness.
Infantino was quoted as saying the tournament is being introduced to provide a fresh injection of spirit into regional football and symbolise the unity of Asean nations through the world’s most popular sport.
