The summit is seen as an important moment in top-level diplomacy.

The strategy also places strong emphasis on workforce development, with measures to create more quality jobs, support career transitions, and promote lifelong learning among workers.

The Immigration and Corrections Ministry said it is currently building around 70 kitchens across prisons and detention centres nationwide, with about 36 expected to be operational by the end of the month.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Friday urged ASEAN to fully leverage cooperation with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), including the broader ASEAN-GCC-China nexus, to build more reliable and resilient energy arrangements.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Friday that leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations had agreed to strengthen intra-bloc trade and reinforce regional food security mechanisms amid rising energy prices and disruptions to global shipping routes caused by conflict in the Middle East.

China supports Iran in safeguarding its national sovereignty and security, and appreciates Iran's willingness to seek a political settlement through diplomatic means, Foreign Minister Wang said.

The warning comes from the report “Roadmap for Extreme Heat Protection through Passive Cooling in ASEAN Region” by the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), which says Thailand’s capital faces a far more severe heat crisis in the decades ahead.

The memorandum of understanding on the ASEAN Power Grid is expected to promote cross-border electricity trade, enabling member states to share energy resources and stabilise power supply across the region.

Major outlets including Kyodo News, NHK, Asahi Shimbun, Nikkei and The Japan Times agreed that the visit is not merely a routine diplomatic engagement, but carries strategic significance in restructuring supply chains and ensuring Japan’s energy security.

President Prabowo Subianto further noted that around 1,800 similar crossings across Java require urgent attention, while pledging swift improvements, whether through guard posts or building flyovers.

The sea urchin season, which was originally scheduled to begin on April 27, has been postponed.

Beyond improving green transport, Thailand has also transformed neglected waterways into vibrant public spaces, with Khlong Ong Ang emerging as one of the country’s most notable examples of urban regeneration.