[Title] KUALA LUMPUR DECLARATION ON THE TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE EAST ASIA SUMMIT

KUALA LUMPUR DECLARATION ON THE TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE EAST ASIA SUMMIT

WE, the participating countries of the East Asia Summit (EAS) gathered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the East Asia Summit;

REAFFIRMING our commitment to the 2005 Kuala Lumpur Declaration on the East Asia Summit in setting the broad vision, principles, objectives and modalities of the East Asia Summit;

REITERATING our commitment to the 2010 Ha Noi Declaration on the Commemoration of the Fifth Anniversary of the East Asia Summit, the 2015 Kuala Lumpur Declaration on the Tenth Anniversary of the East Asia Summit, and the 2020 Ha Noi Declaration on the Fifteenth Anniversary of the East Asia Summit to strengthen our cooperation in promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in the region;

RECOGNISING that our region and the world are facing geopolitical tensions and conflicts, economic challenges, and current and emerging security and other transboundary challenges that require collective collaboration for peace as well as social and economic progress;

REAFFIRMING our commitment to the purposes and principles reflected in the Charter of the United Nations, the ASEAN Charter, the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), the 2005 Kuala Lumpur Declaration on the East Asia Summit, and the 2011 Declaration of the East Asia Summit on the Principles for Mutually Beneficial Relations (the Bali Principles);

SUPPORTING ASEAN's unity and centrality in ASEAN-led mechanisms and reaffirming ASEAN as the driving force within the East Asia Summit, working in close partnership with the other participating countries in which we strive to promote strategic trust and ensure transparent, predictable, and responsible behaviour;

BEING COGNISANT of the progress and achievements of the East Asia Summit over the past twenty years, including substantial cooperation in addressing common challenges and promoting peace, stability, and economic prosperity in the region;

SUPPORTING the further strengthening of the East Asia Summit on the basis of its established principles and objectives;

BEING DESIROUS of creating a peaceful environment for further enhancing cooperation and strengthening the existing bonds of friendship among participating countries of the East Asia Summit, in keeping with the principles of equality, partnership, consultation, and mutual respect, thereby contributing to peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and the world at large;

RECOGNISING the respective and complementary roles of the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers in providing policy guidance, the EAS Senior Officials in ensuring policy coordination and follow-up, the Group of East Asia Summit Ambassadors in Jakarta as important mechanisms to facilitate ongoing engagement and dialogue, and the EAS Unit in the ASEAN Secretariat in providing institutional support and continuity, all contributing to efforts in strengthening the EAS and supporting the effective implementation of the EAS Leaders' statements, declarations, decisions, and initiatives, as well as the EAS Plan of Action (2024-2028), including the exchange of information on regional development cooperation and security policies, as well as discussions on the evolving regional architecture;

DO HEREBY DECLARE on the twentieth anniversary of the East Asia Summit:

1. That we reaffirm our commitment to the East Asia Summit, sitting at the apex of the ASEAN-centred regional architecture, as a Leaders-led forum for dialogue and cooperation on broad strategic, political and economic issues of common interest and concern, with the aim of promoting peace, stability and economic prosperity in East Asia;

2. That the East Asia Summit commits to enhance dialogue and its role in upholding and promoting international law in the region. We underscore the importance of enhancing mutual understanding, respect, trust and friendship, as well as settlement of differences and disputes by peaceful means in accordance with international law, and with the common interest to maintain, promote, and sustain peace, stability, and prosperity in the region;

3. That we reaffirm the East Asia Summit's strong commitment to multilateralism based on international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, which is the indispensable foundation of a more peaceful and prosperous world;

4. That the East Asia Summit continues to promote and uphold international law, as well as the principles prescribed in the 2011 Declaration of the East Asia Summit on the Principles for Mutually Beneficial Relations (the Bali Principles);

5. That the East Asia Summit commits to enhancing its role as an avenue for constructive, candid and open dialogue and deliberations as well as practical cooperation, with the East Asia Summit process remaining positive and useful over time, which benefits the interest of ASEAN and the region;

6. That the East Asia Summit, with ASEAN playing a central role, commits to enhancing economic cooperation among EAS participating countries in areas of mutual interest to ensure regional resilience against economic challenges and narrow the development gaps in the region;

WE HEREBY DECIDE ON the following concerted efforts to strengthen the East Asia Summit:

7. RETAIN the informal nature of the East Asia Summit to allow for interactive discussions and candid deliberations among Leaders on strategic, political and economic issues of common concern and collaborative engagement for mutual interest and benefit;

8. COOPERATE in joint activities and projects in implementing the East Asia Summit Plan of Action (2024-2028) in tandem with the ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future to further intensify community-building efforts, and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the region; and

9. DEVELOP and IMPLEMENT joint activities and concrete projects to advance the implementation of the EAS Plan of Action (2024-2028). SUPPORT ASEAN's continuous efforts to mainstream and implement the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), while reaffirming that the AOIP is intended to enhance the ASEAN Community-building process as well as strengthen and complement cooperation with partners.

ADOPTED in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on the Twenty-Seventh Day of October in the Year Two Thousand and Twenty-Five.