Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat

Mechanisms 28th ASEAN Plus (APT) Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 2025-10-27

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On 27th October 2025, the 28th ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Summit was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. The Heads of State/Government/Foreign Minister of ASEAN member states, Japan, the People’s Republic of China, and the Republic of Korea, attended the Summit. The Director of ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) briefed on the region’s macroeconomic and financial development and outlook. Representatives of the East Asia Business Council (EABC) briefed on regional economic growth, and ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. KAO Kim Hourn reported on the progress of APT cooperation at the opening session. Secretary-General LEE Hee-Sup of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) attended the meeting as an observer.

The APT leaders reviewed the progress and outcomes of the APT cooperation and its future direction, and exchanged views on regional and international developments. The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the APT framework, which plays a key role in fostering regional cooperation and addressing emerging issues and challenges. The leaders welcomed the implementation of the APT Cooperation Work Plan (2023-2027) and discussed enhancing cooperation across various sectors, including food security, energy security, digital economy, green economy, poverty alleviation, youth development, and jointly combating cross-border crimes. The Meeting adopted the APT Leaders’ Statement on Strengthening Regional Economic and Financial Cooperation.

During the Summit, SG LEE met with Mr. WATANABE Yasuto, Director of the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO). SG LEE expressed appreciation for AMRO’s continuous support, particularly in the preparation of the Trilateral Economic Report (TER), and conveyed his willingness to further strengthen cooperation between the two organizations. In response, Director Watanabe acknowledged TCS’s longstanding support and expressed his interest in deepening collaboration. SG LEE also met with Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of the ASEAN Secretariat. The two leaders exchanged views on strengthening collaboration between the two organizations to further promote “Trilateral+X” cooperation.

On October 25, in conjunction with the ASEAN Summit, SG LEE was invited as an observer to the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (ABIS) 2025, the region’s premier business forum. Under the theme of “Unifying Markets for Shared Prosperity,” the Summit explored strategies to strengthen ASEAN’s economic resilience, digital transformation, and sustainable growth.

On the sidelines of the 28th APT Summit, SG LEE conducted interviews with major CJK and regional media outlets, including China News Service, Xinhua News Agency, Asahi Shimbun, and E-daily, where he underscored the importance of sustaining dialogue and cooperation among the three countries amid growing protectionism and geopolitical uncertainty. He emphasized that practical, people-centered cooperation in areas such as public health, aging society, disaster management, and climate change can serve as a stable foundation for peace and mutual trust in Northeast Asia. He also highlighted the role of youth, cultural, and local-level exchanges in supporting trilateral relations and stressed the need to expand such grassroots networks to complement high-level dialogue, reaffirming TCS’s commitment to serving as a bridge between the CJK cooperation framework and ASEAN+3 mechanisms.