President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday formally accepted the Philippines’ role as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for 2026. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim turned over the ASEAN chairship gavel to Marcos during the

President Donald Trump, during his trip to Asia, will participate in the 47th ASEAN Summit in Malaysia before making stops in Japan and South Korea.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s visit to Southeast Asia for the ASEAN Summit is expected to spotlight Beijing’s shifting trade and diplomatic priorities in the region. The discussions come as the region navigates rising U.

East Timor has been formally admitted into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in the group’s first expansion since the 1990s

China's Premier Li Qiang, gives his opening remark as Japan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Toshimitsu Motegi, center, and South Korea President Lee Jae Myung sit next to him during the 28th ASEAN Plus Three Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Monday, Oct. 27, 2025. Vincent Thian/Pool via REUTERS

Indonesia’s KADIN chair Anindya Bakrie says ASEAN has emerged not just as a bystander but an orchestrator of trade, citing Indonesia’s growing list of deals despite global headwinds.

Integration efforts within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) “may seem incremental to some” but there are “considerable determination and commitment” among the leaders, says Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

Leaders of Southeast Asian nations have wrapped up three days of summit meetings in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur. The United States, Japan and China also took part.