5 things about Asean foreign ministers' retreat in Malaysia

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Foreign Ministers’ Retreat is set to kick off in Langkawi, Malaysia, on Saturday (January 18).

The retreat will bring together foreign ministers and representatives from the 10 Asean member states and Timor-Leste, an observer.

Here are five key things about this significant gathering:

1. Heralding Malaysia’s busy year as ASEAN chair

The AMM Retreat is the beginning of Malaysia’s packed schedule as ASEAN Chair in 2025. The Langkawi meeting sets the stage for a significant year of collaboration and progress for the region.

The retreat, hosted at the Langkawi International Convention Centre, is expected to see the participation of over 200 delegates. The discussions and decisions made here will shape ASEAN’s path forward in 2025.

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After that, over 300 key meetings and programs are planned across the country throughout the year, reflecting Malaysia’s commitment to advancing ASEAN’s goals.

2. Timor-Leste’s participation as an observer

For the first time, Timor-Leste’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, will attend the retreat as an observer. This is a step forward in Timor-Leste’s gradual integration into Asean as it seeks full membership in the regional grouping.

3. Key topics on the agenda

The retreat will focus on several pressing issues, including the group’s external relations, regional security, and international developments of shared concern. It will also address community-building efforts within Asean and discuss strategies to enhance collaboration across member states.

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4. Senior officials’ meetings

Ahead of the formal retreat, Asean Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) leaders, including Malaysia’s Asean SOM Leader Datuk Seri Amran Mohamed Zin, will convene to discuss preparatory matters.

Amran will also host a welcome dinner for the delegates on January 17. A press conference on the SOM’s outcomes is also scheduled.

5. Malaysia’s Asean chairmanship theme: Inclusivity and sustainability

Malaysia officially assumed the chairmanship of ASEAN on January 1, 2025, for the fifth time since Asean’s establishment in 1967. This year’s theme, “Inclusivity and Sustainability,” aims to shape discussions and initiatives for the year. The retreat will chart the bloc’s priorities, including the Asean Community Vision 2045, which outlines long-term goals for regional integration and cooperation.