Leaders, Trade Deals Expected at ASEAN Summit

The 47th ASEAN Summit and related summits will be held in Kuala Lumpur from Oct. 26–28, 2025. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said high-profile guests including U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese Premier Li Qiang are expected to attend, while Russia's Vladimir Putin has told Anwar he is “seriously considering” attendance and Russia has so far only officially confirmed Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak. Philippine President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. will participate and the Philippines will assume the ASEAN chairmanship for 2026. Leaders aim to sustain Southeast Asia’s economic momentum by deepening trade, investment and digital cooperation, with around 80 outcome documents expected and major trade pacts — including an upgraded ATIGA, an ASEAN–China FTA 3.0 upgrade protocol and conclusions on the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement — likely to be announced or signed on the sidelines. India’s Narendra Modi will join virtually due to Deepavali, and analysts warn that complex security issues such as Myanmar and the South China Sea remain challenging even as ASEAN pursues deeper intra-regional cooperation.