KUALA LUMPUR — On the opening day of the 46th ASEAN Summit, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto made full use of his time by not only attending the plenary session but also holding a series of bilateral meetings with fellow Southeast Asian leaders at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC).

On Monday (May 26), President Prabowo met separately with Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong Shyun Tsai. The closed-door meetings were described as productive and cordial, with a clear focus on enhancing economic ties.

President Prabowo was accompanied by key members of his economic and diplomatic team, including Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Foreign Minister Sugiono, Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman, Minister of Trade Budi Santoso, Coordinating Minister for Investment and Downstreaming Rosan P. Roeslani, and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.

Foreign Minister Sugiono noted that the bilateral discussions emphasized the need to elevate cooperation, particularly in the economic sector.

“The President held bilateral meetings with the Prime Minister of Laos and the Prime Minister of Singapore,” Sugiono stated.
“Both meetings stressed the importance of strengthening collaboration, especially in key economic areas.”

Sugiono underscored that Indonesia’s approach at the summit goes beyond symbolic participation, aiming instead to foster concrete and sustainable partnerships at the regional level.

Following the bilateral meetings, President Prabowo rejoined other ASEAN leaders at the main summit session to sign the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future. The declaration was signed in succession by all heads of state and government in attendance.

The ceremony was also witnessed by Timor-Leste’s Prime Minister, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, who participated as an observer. While not yet a full ASEAN member, Timor-Leste’s presence highlighted the region’s continued commitment to openness and inclusivity.

President Prabowo’s active diplomacy on the sidelines of the summit underscored Indonesia’s commitment to playing a central role in building a more unified, integrated, and competitive ASEAN for the decades to come.