Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Participates in the ASEAN Leadership and Partnership Forum 2026 in Kuala Lumpur

The Chargé d’Affaires a.i., Counsellor Ahmed Ghanim Abdul-Jabbar, participated on 6 May 2026 in the ASEAN Leadership and Partnership Forum 2026, which commenced in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, with high-level participation from government leaders, ministers, parliamentarians, and economic experts from Southeast Asian countries.

The Forum is held this year under the theme: “Navigating ASEAN in a New Geopolitical Era: Preserving Centrality, Securing Prosperity, and Empowering Peoples.” It addressed key geopolitical and economic challenges facing ASEAN countries, as well as ways to enhance regional integration and strengthen economic resilience in the face of global developments.

The opening session featured welcoming remarks by a number of prominent figures, including leaders of regional business councils and Asian policy and strategic think tanks. The programme also included the participation of senior current and former officials from ASEAN countries, in addition to representatives from the economic and investment sectors.

During his participation, the Chargé d’Affaires a.i. followed the discussions addressing several key issues, including strategies to address geopolitical tensions, rising energy prices and inflation, as well as the future of the digital economy, the transition to green energy, and the strengthening of supply chains and regional economic integration.

The ASEAN Leadership and Partnership Forum is an important annual platform that brings together decision-makers and experts to discuss the future of the region and ASEAN’s role in the evolving international system, amid growing interest in reinforcing ASEAN centrality and promoting economic stability in the region.