Speech by President António Costa at the opening session of the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur 09:00 On 26 October 2025, European Council President António Costa was in[...]

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Excellencies, Distinguished delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great honour to address you today on behalf of the European Union at the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur.

I would like to thank Prime Minister Anwar for inviting, for the first time, the European Union to participate in an ASEAN Summit. Following your visit to Brussels earlier this year, it is a great pleasure to join you in Kuala Lumpur today.

I would also like to congratulate Prime Minister Anwar on his successful chairmanship of ASEAN during this year.

And for his leadership in brokering the ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand, last July.

This is a demonstration of ASEAN's commitment to peace stability and dialogue.

I also warmly congratulate ASEAN on the inclusion of Timor-Leste as its 11th Member State.

This is an important milestone in fostering Timor-Leste's economic and political interdependence, and in strengthening ASEAN's regional integration.

The European Union is proud to engage with ASEAN as a reliable partner in today's shifting geopolitical environment.

We live in a multipolar world. A world facing increasing fragmentation and uncertainty. And so it is crucial that we weave a global network of cooperation across regions. That we strengthen our partnership.

The European Union is ASEAN's third-largest trading partner, and its third-largest investor.

Our economies are deeply interlinked, and this partnership drives opportunities, growth and stability.

We must secure our supply chains, diversify partnerships, promote sustainable trade, and build resilience in critical sectors.

Our collective ambition is clear: to work side by side to keep our regions even more connected to each other and to the world.

Every new trade agreement and new investment is a bridge that reinforces stability and shared prosperity.

We are proud to have just concluded a Free Trade Agreement with Indonesia, our third such agreement with an ASEAN member, following those with Singapore and Vietnam.

Negotiations with Thailand, the Philippines, and Malaysia are progressing well, and step by step, these agreements are bringing our two regions ever closer together.

We must keep our regions linked, not just through trade, but also through deeper ties in areas like digital infrastructure, energy, and green transitions.

At the recent Global Gateway Forum in Brussels, we reaffirmed our support for key regional connectivity projects, such as the ASEAN Power Grid.

Our common focus is clear, as rightly highlighted by the motto of the Malaysian Chairmanship: "Inclusivity and Sustainability".

But our partnership is also grounded in shared security interests.

Maritime security is a key area of cooperation.

Both the European Union and ASEAN advocate for a free and open Indo-Pacific, based on respect for international law.

Our regions share a commitment to multilateralism, to the rules-based international order and the principles of the United Nations Charter.

These principles are the foundation of our security and prosperity.

The alternative is a chaotic and violent world.

International law must prevail everywhere, grounded in the United Nations Charter.

In the South China Sea, in Gaza, and in Ukraine.

The European Union has long been a champion of deeper regional integration.

We know from our own experience that stronger ties leads to better cooperation, greater stability, and lasting prosperity.

A multipolar world requires multipolar cooperation.

As we look ahead to the 50th anniversary of European Union-ASEAN relations in 2027, we must continue to deepen our partnership.

By addressing shared challenges, such as climate change, ocean protection, and technological transformation.

By exploring new areas for cooperation, including digitalisation, security, and education.

And by upgrading our partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership by 2027.

Our partnership is long-term and strategic.

Together, we are building a future of peace, prosperity, and stability.

You can count on the European Union as a reliable, predictable and trustworthy partner.

We wish you a successful summit and look forward to celebrating the 50th anniversary of European Union-ASEAN relations in 2027.

Thank you, Prime Minister Anwar, and Excellencies, for your attention.