asean malysia

KUALA LUMPUR: It is Malaysia’s moment and that of the Global South under the sun. Kuala Lumpur, famed for its neck-craning skyscrapers and the iconic Petronas Twin Towers, is hosting the 47th ASEAN and related summits, which puts the spotlight on the 11-nation grouping’s role in rejuvenating economic growth and in promoting peace and stability in the region against the backdrop of growing geopolitical turbulence. In the perennially distracted New Delhi, the interest in the Kuala Lumpur summit has dimmed after Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided to skip the summit due to scheduling constraints and overriding political priorities. The summits in Malaysia, however, need close monitoring and attention as it will not just impinge on interests of the region but also the world which is reeling under a crippling crisis of multilateralism. The summits, hosted at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) in Malaysia, is fittingly themed “Inclusivity and Sustainability.” Here are five key reasons why the 47th ASEAN and related summits matter