As the 46th Asean Summit opened in Kuala Lumpur, Asean Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn reaffirmed the bloc’s unity and central role amid regional challenges like the South China Sea dispute and Myanmar crisis. He praised Malaysia’s proactive leadership, particularly in coordinating humanitarian aid after Myanmar's recent earthquake and engaging stakeholders to advance the Five-Point Consensus. Kao stressed that Asean remains committed to peace, stability, and inclusive political dialogue, with Malaysia taking a strong lead as this year’s chair.
