Beijing and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have signed an expanded free trade agreement as both sides face increased protectionism from the United States.

The president will kick off his Asia tour in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Oct. 26 where he will participate in the 47th ASEAN Summit.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has officially handed over the Asean chairmanship to the Philippines, which will host it in 2026. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim handed over the gavel to the Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr as a symbolic gesture of the handover.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Monday urged Asia-Pacific leaders to choose dialogue over coercion and cooperation over confrontation, as he opened the East Asia summit at a time of sharpening rivalry between the United States and China.

The ASEAN bloc of Southeast Asian nations and China on Tuesday signed an upgrade to their free trade agreement, which includes sections on digital, the green economy and other new industries, Beijing's Commerce Ministry said.

Taking place from Oct. 25 to 28, this year’s ASEAN Summit will be held in Malaysia and is set to be a critical moment in reshaping the Indo-Pacific’s role in the evolving global order.

Malaysian foreign minister warned his counterparts from Southeast Asia that the space for neutrality is shrinking in a region increasingly shaped by big power rivalry, as they mark U.S. President Donald Trump’s first trip to Asia since returning to the White House.

As the 47th Asean Summit and Related Summit draws to a close, the Philippines has symbolically received the Asean chairmanship from Malaysia.

IEA indicates that Malaysia is critical for future rare earth refining and ASEAN and Austrlia have critical mining, reserves and refining of rare earths.

As a strategic partner to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Grab Malaysia proudly welcomes ASEAN leaders, delegates, and media representatives to Kuala Lumpur through our #GrabBersamaASEAN initiative .

ASEAN, one of the world's most dynamic and integrated regions, has both the political convening power and the economic incentive to defend a region built on multilateral principles