KUALA LUMPUR, 27 October 2025 (TATOLI) – The 28th ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Summit convened today on the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Summit at the KLCC, bringing together the eleven ASEAN member states and their three East-Asian dialogue partners – the People’s Republic of China, Kapan and the Republic of Korea (ROK).
Key Discussions & Highlights
At the summit, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim emphasized the urgency of establishing a regional medical-supplies reserve to strengthen preparedness for future health crises, calling for accelerated cooperation within the APT framework.
- Li Qiang, Premier of China, stressed that East Asia’s fast-growing economics must uphold openness and cooperation in the face of growing protectionism and external fragmentation.
- Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi reaffirmed Tokyo’s commitment to regional food and financial security mechanisms such as the Chiang Mai initiative, thereby reinforcing the APT’s role in regional economic stability.
- Other themes featured throughout the summit included: strengthening supply-chain resilience across East Asia; promoting digital transformation and fintech linkages between ASEAN and its Plus Three partners; enhancing energy transition efforts; and maintaining regional peace and stability amid shifting geopolitical dynamics.
Significance and Outlook
The APT Summit remains a cornerstone f East-Asian regional architecture dating back to 1997, and today’s gathering at the 47th ASEAN Summit underscores its enduring relevance.
For ASEAN, the plus-three partners offer technological capabilities, financial safety-nets and strategic linkages that enhance the region’s global competitiveness. For China, Japan and Korea, engagement with ASEAN cements their roles in a multilateral Indo-Pacific aligned with shared principles of openness, connectivity and inclusive growth.
Journalist: Digna Serrão
Editor: Filomeno Martins
