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New Straits Times

[UPDATED] Trump may attend 47th Asean Summit in October, says Rubio

KUALA LUMPUR: There is a possibility that United States President Donald Trump may attend the 47th Asean Summit in October. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the likelihood, adding that discussions were ongoing to finalise a date for the Asean–US Special Summit. "It's possible, yes," he said briefly when asked about Trump's attendance, during a media engagement on the sidelines of the 58th Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting and related events. "We are working on a date for that," he added, referring to the Asean–US Special Summit. Rubio arrived in the Malaysian capital today to participate in the 58th Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) and the Asean Post-Ministerial Conference with the United States. He was received by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. His visit to Kuala Lumpur comes in the wake of US President Donald Trump's recent announcement on the imposition of new tariffs. In addition to his role as Secretary of State, Rubio also serves as Trump's National Security Adviser. His trip is seen as a move to reassert Washington's foreign policy priorities in Asia, following months of focus on the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who met with Rubio earlier today, described the meeting as "beneficial", citing the United States' openness to reviewing trade tariffs and its continued engagement with both Malaysia and Asean. In May, Mohamad said that Malaysia, as Asean Chair, was still awaiting confirmation from Washington on the date of the Asean–US Special Summit. "Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has written to the US requesting that an Asean–US Special Summit be held this year. "We are waiting for a response from the US, and hopefully we will receive good news," he said.