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Context

The 20th East Asia Summit (EAS), held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on October 27-28, 2025, adopted the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Peace and Stability.

What is the East Asia Summit (EAS)?

It serves as a forum where major powers and ASEAN nations discuss cooperation and manage regional challenges.

Origin and Evolution

• Established in 2005 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
• It evolved from the ASEAN Plus Three (APT) process (ASEAN + China, Japan, South Korea).
• The first EAS summit took place in 2005.

Membership

• 18 member countries: 10 ASEAN nations (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam)
• 8 Dialogue Partners: Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, and the US.
• India is a founding member of the EAS.
• The US and Russia joined in 2011.
• Timor-Leste was formally accepted as ASEAN’s 11th member at the 2025 summit, paving the way for its EAS membership.

Objectives

• Promote peace, stability, and economic prosperity in East Asia.
• Encourage open, inclusive, and transparent dialogue.
• Reinforce ASEAN centrality in regional cooperation.

Key Areas of Cooperation (16 Sectors)

Peace and security, sustainable development, climate and energy, education, finance, health, natural disaster management, connectivity, trade, food security, maritime cooperation, and poverty alleviation.

Highlights of the Kuala Lumpur Declaration

Reaffirmation of Core Commitments

• Reiterated support for earlier declarations (2005, 2010, 2015, 2020).
• Emphasized adherence to international law, the UN Charter, and peaceful dispute settlement.

Addressing Geopolitical Tensions

• Recognized challenges like great power rivalry, economic uncertainty, and global conflicts.
• Stressed collective cooperation to ensure lasting peace and growth.

South China Sea Disputes

• Leaders called for peace and stability in the South China Sea.
• Urged all parties to respect UNCLOS (1982), show restraint, and work toward an early Code of Conduct (COC).

Economic and Development Cooperation

• Endorsed the EAS Plan of Action (2024–2028).
• Promoted cooperation in innovation, digital economy, green development, energy transition, health, and disaster resilience.

Regional Peace Accord

• On the sidelines, Thailand and Cambodia signed the KL Peace Accord, settling a long-standing border dispute.

India’s Role in the EAS

India sees the EAS as central to its Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).

Strategic Engagement

India uses the EAS to interact with major global powers like the US, China, Japan, and Russia, strengthening its regional influence.

 Indo-Pacific Vision

• Supports ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and aligns it with India’s IPOI.
• Advocates for an inclusive, rules-based Indo-Pacific focused on cooperation, not confrontation.

Economic and Connectivity Initiatives

• India is working with ASEAN to finalize the review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA).
• It promotes resilient supply chains, infrastructure connectivity, and digital growth.

Security and Maritime Cooperation

• India collaborates on counter-terrorism, cybersecurity, maritime safety, and disaster management.
• Declared 2026 as the Year of ASEAN-India Maritime Cooperation.

Cultural and Educational Diplomacy

• Revived Nalanda University as a hub for regional academic and cultural exchange.
• Hosted higher education conclaves to deepen people-to-people ties.

 Source: NEWSONAIR