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Malaysia ASEAN Chairmanship 2025: Reflections and Achievements

And now, the end is here. It seems only yesterday we assumed our ASEAN Chairmanship 2025. Malaysia hosted over 20 meetings and events under my ministry, while leading pillar coordination and reporting of more than 140 programs across 15 sectoral bodies. As the 2025 ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council Chair for the past year, we Malaysia ASEAN Chairmanship 2025: Reflections and Achievements

ASEAN’s Agenda for the Future: Transparency, Trust, and Navigating Global Uncertainty

The Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, participated in an interface session with regional media ahead of the opening of the 9th ASEAN Media Forum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 6 November 2025. During this interactive session, SG Dr. Kao shared insights on ASEAN’s major milestones and key deliverables achieved under Malaysia’s Chairmanship in ASEAN’s Agenda for the Future: Transparency, Trust, and Navigating Global Uncertainty

The 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings: 26-29 October 2025, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings marked the culmination of Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship 2025. Under the theme, “Inclusivity and Sustainability,” Malaysia prioritised strengthening ASEAN Centrality, enhancing ASEAN intra-trade and investment, and embedding inclusivity and sustainability in regional Community- building efforts. The summit witnessed a historic milestone as ASEAN Leaders formally signed the accession instrument The 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings: 26-29 October 2025, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Strengthening ASEAN-UN Partnership in Disaster Management

The increasing frequency, scale, and complexity of disasters in Southeast Asia underscore the need for strengthened regional cooperation in humanitarian action. The ASEAN region—one of the most disaster-prone in the world—faces a convergence of risks that demand coordinated and forward-looking responses to natural hazards, which have significant socio-economic impacts. Climate change is worsening vulnerabilities across Strengthening ASEAN-UN Partnership in Disaster Management

Small State, Big Impact: Singapore’s Role in Strengthening ASEAN’s Disaster Management

Located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, ASEAN is the most disaster-prone region in the world. In just mid-2025, ASEAN has faced close to 2,000 disasters, which have affected 45.6 million persons and displaced 2.1 million persons. Some 6,000 lives were lost, and damages amounted to 5.2 billion US dollars. Singapore, despite its size, contributes Small State, Big Impact: Singapore’s Role in Strengthening ASEAN’s Disaster Management

Global Leadership

The ASEAN Vision 2025 on Disaster Management seeks to position ASEAN as a global leader in disaster management. Towards this, ASEAN continues to build the professional capacities of its disaster management sector, showcase ASEAN’s expertise and achievements worldwide, and form strategic partnerships with global institutions for disaster management cooperation.