World Leaders Gather in Kuala Lumpur for ASEAN Summit Amid Trade Tensions and Regional Conflicts

Key Points:

• US President Donald Trump to attend ASEAN summit in Malaysia from October 26–28
• Leaders from China, Japan, Canada, Brazil, Australia, and others to join discussions
• Trade tensions between the US and China expected to dominate the agenda
• Thailand and Cambodia to sign a ceasefire pact after recent border clashes
• Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) leaders’ summit to discuss expansion and trade flow improvements
• East Timor to be formally admitted as ASEAN’s 11th member

Oct 2025 : The leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and their global dialogue partners, including US President Donald Trump, will gather in the Malaysian capital from October 26 to 28 for a high-stakes summit aimed at addressing trade, security, and geopolitical conflicts across Asia and beyond.

The meeting is expected to draw significant international attention as it brings together major world leaders amid growing global economic uncertainty and renewed tensions between the United States and China.

Trump and Global Leaders to Attend

President Trump is scheduled to attend the ASEAN leaders’ meeting on Sunday before traveling to Japan and South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum from October 31 to November 1. This will be Trump’s second appearance at an ASEAN summit since 2017. He will be accompanied by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

Other prominent attendees include Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Japan’s new premier Sanae Takaichi. Leaders from South Korea, Russia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Brunei, and Myanmar are also expected.

US-China Trade Talks and Rising Tensions

Trade issues are likely to dominate the discussions as Washington and Beijing continue efforts to ease tensions over rare earth exports. Treasury Secretary Bessent and Trade Representative Greer are expected in Malaysia ahead of Trump’s arrival to hold talks with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, Beijing’s top economic official.

According to China’s Commerce Ministry, negotiations between both sides will take place from October 24 to 27 in Kuala Lumpur. The discussions come amid renewed trade friction between the world’s two largest economies, threatening to derail an anticipated meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea next week.

Ceasefire Between Thailand and Cambodia

In a major regional development, Thailand and Cambodia are expected to sign a broader ceasefire agreement to end a border conflict that claimed lives in July. The agreement follows an initial ceasefire brokered on July 28 by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and President Trump, whose intervention via phone calls helped resolve the standoff.

In recognition of his efforts, Cambodia has reportedly nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. Malaysia’s Foreign Minister said Trump is expected to attend the signing ceremony during the summit.

ASEAN’s Economic Agenda and RCEP Summit

The ASEAN Summit will also coincide with a high-level meeting of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) — the first since the bloc reached an initial trade deal in 2020. The RCEP includes all ten ASEAN members, along with China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand, forming the world’s largest trading bloc.

Covering nearly a third of the global population and about 30% of global GDP, the RCEP aims to deepen regional trade integration. Member states are expected to explore expanding membership and improving trade flows, though analysts note the pact’s provisions remain less comprehensive than other global trade agreements due to differing national interests.

East Timor Joins ASEAN

In a landmark move, East Timor will formally be admitted as ASEAN’s 11th member on October 26, ending a decade-long accession process. The inclusion marks a significant milestone for the bloc’s regional integration efforts.

As the Kuala Lumpur summit begins, the focus will be on how ASEAN balances its traditional neutrality while managing intensifying geopolitical rivalries and fostering economic cooperation in a volatile global environment.

Team Maverick