Malaysia, in its capacity as ASEAN Chair for 2025, will host a landmark Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Summit in October, scheduled to run concurrently with the 47th ASEAN Summit. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim officially announced the initiative during his address at the BOAO Forum for Asia’s Kuala Lumpur Roundtable held at the Shangri-La Hotel today.
Purpose of the Summit
Serving as an opportunity for member nations to assess progress and reinvigorate implementation efforts, the RCEP Summit aims to ensure that the agreement transcends legal codification and is energized by political will.
“RCEP must not remain a legal text on paper. It must be renewed with political energy,” said the Prime Minister.
Anwar emphasized the broader strategic value: “As ASEAN Chair, Malaysia intends to convene an RCEP Summit in October. The aim is to take stock, to accelerate implementation, and to demonstrate that Asia can still lead the cause of openness even as others turn inward.
Context and Significance
- Global Importance: RCEP is now the world’s largest free-trade area, encompassing 15 Asia-Pacific economies—including the 10 ASEAN members and key partners such as Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand—and representing approximately 30% of global GDP.
- ASEAN-China FTA 3.0: Parallel to RCEP, ASEAN and China have concluded negotiations for the ASEAN‑China Free Trade Area 3.0, which will be unveiled during leader-level discussions in October.
- Vision for the Region: The Prime Minister highlighted Southeast Asia’s expanding middle class, growing digital economies, and resilient trade networks, while noting risks of fragmentation. He pointed out that achieving the “Asian century” will require purposeful cohesion, coordinated policy, and investments in shared resilience.
Broader Diplomatic Landscape
Malaysia’s chairmanship has seen active regional engagement, with expectations of strong turnout at the 47th ASEAN Summit (26–28 October), including heads of state from outside ASEAN such as Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa.
However, recent reports suggest that Chinese President Xi Jinping is likely to skip the summit, with Premier Li Qiang expected to represent China instead.
Conclusion
The joint hosting of the RCEP Summit alongside the 47th ASEAN Summit underscores Malaysia’s commitment to reinforcing Asia’s leadership in global trade liberalization. This dual event reflects a strategic push to break through geopolitical headwinds and ensure that regional economic integration remains dynamic, inclusive, and forward-looking
