ASEAN to Host Trump at Summit as U.S. and China Seek to Prevent Trade War Escalation

Southeast Asia’s regional bloc is set to host world leaders this weekend at a key summit, coinciding with high-stakes trade talks between the United States and China — and marking the first stop on U.S. President Donald Trump’s Asia tour.

At its annual meeting in Kuala Lumpur, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will focus on strengthening multilateral trade and building new partnerships while managing the fallout from Trump’s global tariff push.

Trump is scheduled to arrive in Malaysia on Sunday, beginning a five-day trip through Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea aimed at bolstering U.S. diplomatic standing. His visit comes as Washington and Beijing officials work to prevent their trade tensions from escalating further ahead of Trump’s planned meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea next week.

Leaders to Attend ASEAN Summit

Ahead of the formal sessions on Sunday, Trump will join other global leaders including Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Japan’s newly elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

Host Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia said Wednesday, “This represents a new strategic direction for Malaysia and ASEAN — deepening diplomatic and trade relations with regions such as Africa and Latin America.”

ASEAN — comprising Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam — will also formally welcome East Timor as its 11th member. The inclusion of Timor-Leste, one of the world’s poorest nations, is seen as a political milestone, though analysts say the economic benefits remain uncertain.

Trump Expected to Witness Thailand-Cambodia Ceasefire Deal

The summit’s focus on regional cooperation comes as ASEAN’s unity is being tested by internal conflicts.

In July, border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia escalated into a deadly five-day clash that killed dozens and displaced nearly 300,000 people. Malaysia helped broker an initial ceasefire on July 28, reportedly facilitated by Trump’s direct calls to both leaders.

Thai Defense Minister Natthaphon Narkphanit said this week that significant progress has been made on a broader ceasefire agreement, which would require both sides to remove landmines and heavy artillery from the border. Malaysian officials said the deal is expected to be signed Sunday in Trump’s presence.

Divisions Over Myanmar

ASEAN remains divided over how to end the worsening civil conflict in Myanmar, which began after the 2021 military coup.

Despite repeated appeals for de-escalation, violence has intensified, and the bloc has made little headway in persuading Myanmar’s junta to honor the peace plan agreed upon soon after the coup.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said ASEAN foreign ministers will meet Friday to discuss whether to send regional observers to Myanmar’s upcoming elections, widely criticized by human rights groups as a ploy to legitimize military rule.

U.S.-China Trade Talks in Focus

Trump will be accompanied on his Asia tour by top U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Basent, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

Basent and Greer plan to meet Chinese officials in Malaysia ahead of the Trump-Xi meeting, as Beijing tightens export controls on rare earth materials. Talks with China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng are expected to continue through October 27.

Trump has said he hopes to reach agreements with Xi covering issues ranging from China’s resumption of soybean purchases to limits on nuclear weapons.

Sources also indicate Trump may meet Brazil’s Lula in Malaysia, as Brazil considers lowering tariffs on certain U.S. goods.

Washington’s new tariffs — ranging from 10% to 40% on Southeast Asian imports, with most ASEAN members facing rates near 19% — are expected to dominate the summit’s agenda. For the first time, ASEAN’s foreign and economic ministers will hold a joint session on Saturday to discuss a collective response.

Malaysian officials said ASEAN countries hope to formalize a trade agreement with the U.S. during Trump’s visit.

Broader Regional Cooperation

Malaysia will also host a meeting of leaders from the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) — the world’s largest trade bloc — which includes all ASEAN members plus China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.

Analysts see RCEP as a potential counterweight to U.S. tariffs, though competing national interests among members could limit its effectiveness compared to other regional trade frameworks.