His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam in a titah highlights that over the past decade, the ASEAN Community-building efforts have significantly advanced regional integration and established a strong foundation for peace and prosperity. To maintain the momentum, His Majesty emphasises key areas to enhance the region's resilience against emerging challenges. Among others, intra-ASEAN trade, which has remained below pre-pandemic levels due to ongoing global economic uncertainties and trade disruptions, must be strengthened.
In this regard, His Majesty welcomed Malaysia's decision to prioritise the area during its ASEAN Chairmanship, and further welcomed the recent conclusions of the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement negotiations. In addition, His Majesty looked forward to the early finalisation of the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement. These are vital steps to realising ASEAN's full market potential towards becoming a robust and digitally connected economy.
His Majesty made the titah while attending the Plenary Session of the 46th ASEAN Summit. The session was held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, 26th May morning. In the titah, His Majesty also stressed the need for a stronger regional response in addressing natural disasters and the effects of climate change. To this end, His Majesty highlighted the importance of fully implementing ASEAN SHIELD to strengthen coordination among ASEAN's various mechanisms, and urged ASEAN Member States to ratify the agreement for the ASEAN Centre for Climate Change at the earliest opportunity in advancing regional climate action and supporting ASEAN's resilience and sustainability goals.
His Majesty recognises that ASEAN's community-building efforts remain ongoing, with each milestone marking significant growth and development across all three pillars. In progressing beyond 2025, His Majesty highlights that completing the Southeast Asian family is essential to deepening regional integration, and underscored that Timor-Leste's accession as the newest member of ASEAN will be a meaningful step towards a more unified and integrated region.
His Majesty also expressed support for the adoption of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, as it reflects the collective goal of achieving greater ASEAN centrality as a region that is innovative, adaptive, and focused on people in the next two decades.
The arrival of His Majesty was welcomed by Yang Amat Berhormat Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia as the ASEAN Chair in 2025. His Majesty, along with other Leaders of ASEAN and the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, attended the Plenary Session of the 46th ASEAN Summit.
After the Plenary Session of the 46th ASEAN Summit, His Majesty attended the Retreat Session together with the Leaders of ASEAN and the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste.
News courtesy of Radio Television Brunei
Photo courtesy of InfoFoto
