Kuala Lumpur (TDI): In conjunction with the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers meeting, 15th EAS Summit also took place in Malaysia.
The participants including Foreign Ministers and their representatives, reaffirmed their efforts and support for cooperation on strategic, political and economic issues that the regional countries mutually face.
The members noted the key evolving regional dynamics, their impact on the region and the timely collaboration which is needed to deal with those dynamics.
Moreover, beyond talks, the EAS summit agreed to table key declarations for adoption in October, 2025. This initiative reflects the collective commitment to close cooperation among the EAS member countries.
What is EAS?
East Asia Summit, established in 2005 in the wake of Asian Financial Crises, is a leaders-led regional forum held annually by leaders of its member states which were initially 16 countries in the East Asian, Southeast and Oceanic regions, based on the ASEAN Plus Six mechanism.
Later, Membership expanded to 18 countries including Russia and the United States at the Sixth EAS in 2011.
It’s a forum for strategic dialogue and cooperation on key challenges faced by the East Asian region. Through the cooperation of its member states, it aims to address a wide range of issues, including political, security, and economic concerns. The EAS summit is convened annually.
More on the 15th EAS summit
The Foreign Minister of Malaysia, the host country, Datuk Seri Mohammad Hassan welcomed the support of participating countries for Malaysia’s priority as ASEAN Chairman in 2025.
Moreover, he highlighted the ESA and Malaysia’s support and respect for peace, diplomacy and International Law.
The combined nominal GDP of the participant countries in this meeting is approximately US$68 trillion which accounts for half of the global economy.
This statistic alone signifies the weight and importance of EAS Summit as a platform for dialogue and cooperation
Fakhar Bhatti
Fakhar Bhatti has a BS in International Relations from Bahria University, Islamabad. His research interests include diplomacy, international law, and human rights.
