Kuala lumpur: Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expressed his optimism on Tuesday for achieving "positive" outcomes during the upcoming Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit. The summit is scheduled to take place next week.

According to Anadolu Agency, Anwar shared his views at the DHL GoTrade Summit 2025, emphasizing the significance of the discussions set to occur with several key international partners, including the United States, Canada, India, China, Korea, and Japan. The meetings will take place in Kuala Lumpur under the theme "Inclusivity and Sustainability."

Anwar acknowledged the challenges ahead, stating, "I'm not suggesting it would be easy... we have to seriously deliberate on these issues." He also expressed a cautious optimism, hoping that "sanity will prevail" during deliberations.

A major agenda item for the summit will be tariffs, with Anwar highlighting the importance of resilience, agility, and regional cooperation. He stated, "Such turbulence reminds us of the importance of resilience, agility and regional cooperation. We believe that ASEAN must continue to embody the principle of openness and unity."

Anwar also underscored the significance of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), describing it as the world's largest trade agreement, covering nearly one-third of global GDP and trade. Malaysia recently announced that the RCEP is considering adding new members and exploring ways to enhance trade.

Security measures for the summit are stringent, with over 10,000 police officers deployed and some roads closed to ensure safety, as reported by the state-run Bernama news agency. ASEAN, founded in Bangkok on August 8, 1967, currently consists of ten member countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.