President Donald Trump, on Friday, Oct. 24, embarked on his second term’s first Asia trip on Friday Oct. 24 as the U.S. government shutdown stretched into a fourth week with no end in sight.
Trump, during his five-day trip from Oct. 24-Oct. 30, will participate in the 47th ASEAN Summit in Malaysia, before making stops in Japan and South Korea. He is expected to meet with China’s Xi Jinping and Japan’s newly elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on his trip.
Several congressional Democrats said Trump should have scrapped the planned trip and stayed in Washington to negotiate an end to the shutdown.
This overseas trip comes as the second-term Republican president threatens to nearly triple tariffs on Chinese imports on Nov. 1 unless he reaches a new trade deal with the country. China’s retaliatory taxes have halted key U.S. imports such as soybeans and restricted the sale of rare earth minerals crucial for electronics such as cellphones and computers.
Trump is hoping to strike a deal with Jinping, who will meet with the U.S. president in South Korea on Monday.
Here is what you need to know about ASEAN and which countries are part of it.
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What is the ASEAN Summit?
Established in 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, is a regional organization that aims to promote economic growth and cultural development and enhance security cooperation between member states, according to its charter.
The summit, meanwhile, is the “highest policy-making body in ASEAN comprising the Heads of State or Government of ASEAN Member States,” according to its website.
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Which countries are part of ASEAN?
ASEAN members, according to the association’s website, include:
East Timor will be formally welcomed as the cohort’s 11th member on Sunday, Oct. 25.
Motorists stop at a traffic light next to the logo of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in front of Malaysia’s Petronas Twin Towers ahead of the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur on October 23, 2025.
When is the 2025 ASEAN Summit?
The 47th ASEAN Summit will take place between Oct. 26 and Oct. 28 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The theme for this year’s summit is “Inclusivity and Sustainability,” Malaysia’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
Who will be at the 2025 ASEAN Summit?
Among those expected to be present at the summit, according to Reuters, include Trump, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa and Japan’s Takaichi.
“This represents a new strategic direction for Malaysia and ASEAN in expanding diplomatic and trade ties with other regions, including Africa and Latin America,” Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the summit’s host, said on Wednesday, Oct. 22, Reuters reported.
Contributing: Bart Hansen, Fernando Cervantes Jr. / USA TODAY
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What is the ASEAN Summit 2025? Which countries are part of it?
