ASEAN at the Centre of the Struggle for Open Trade
ASEAN, one of the world's most dynamic and integrated regions, has both the political convening power and the economic incentive to defend a region built on multilateral principles.
The 2025 ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur takes place at a critical moment for the global economic order. While it might appear strange that a seemingly loose group of countries in Southeast Asia hold the future of that order in their hands, ASEAN — still among the world’s most dynamic and integrated economies — has jumped to the defence of regional and global economic openness.
Notable attendees of the summit include
- US President Donald Trump
- Chinese Premier Li Qiang
- Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi
- Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva
- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa
Author's summary: ASEAN defends open trade at 2025 summit.