This year, the World Economic Forum will celebrate 25 years of shaping the agenda in South-East Asia when our regional meeting takes place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from 1 to 2 June.

In that time, the region has achieved significant progress, culminating in the recent launch of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).

Here is a selection of images from the last 25 years of meetings in the region.

Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, speaking together with Lee Kuan Yew, Prime Minister and Tony Tan Keng-Yam, Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore at the East Asia Economic Forum in Singapore, 1994.

East Asia Economic Forum in Singapore, 1994: Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, speaking together with Lee Kuan Yew, Prime Minister and Tony Tan Keng-Yam, Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore.

Manmohan Singh, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Commerce, India, speaking with other panellists

East Asia Economic Summit in Singapore, 1995: Manmohan Singh, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Commerce, India, speaking with other panellists.

Joseph Estrada, President of the Philippines, speaking at a session

East Asia Economic Summit in Singapore, 1998: Joseph Estrada, President of the Philippines, speaking at a session.

Goh Chok Tong, Prime Minister of Singapore, speaking at the “Deepening Regional Integration and Cooperation.”

East Asia Economic Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 2002: Goh Chok Tong, Prime Minister of Singapore, speaking at the “Deepening Regional Integration and Cooperation”.

Image: Abhisit Vejjajiva, Member of Parliament, Thailand, Hishammudin Bin Tun Hussein, Minister of Youth and Sports, Malaysia, Rizal Sukma, Director of Studies, Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Indonesia, speaking at a panel discussion, “Debating Development”

East Asia Economic Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 2002: Abhisit Vejjajiva, Member of Parliament, Thailand, Hishammudin Bin Tun Hussein, Minister of Youth and Sports, Malaysia, Rizal Sukma, Director of Studies, Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Indonesia, speaking at a panel discussion, “Debating Development”.

Image: Musical Performance at the Cultural Soirée.

East Asia Economic Summit in Singapore, 2003: Musical Performance at the Cultural Soirée.

Image: Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein, King of Jordan, entering the Plenary together with Klaus Schwab, Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, to deliver a Special Message

East Asia Economic Summit in Singapore, 2003: Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein, King of Jordan, entering the Plenary together with Schwab to deliver a Special Message.

Lee Kuan Yew, Senior Minister, Singapore, having a conversation with Klaus Schwab, Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum.

East Asia Economic Summit in Singapore, 2003: Lee Kuan Yew, Senior Minister, Singapore, having a conversation with Klaus Schwab.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia, having a discussion with Hassan Marican, President and Chief Executive Officer, Petronas at the “ASEAN in a Changing Global Order”.

East Asia Economic Summit in Singapore, 2003: Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia, having a discussion with Hassan Marican, President and Chief Executive Officer, Petronas at the “ASEAN in a Changing Global Order”.

Kim Dae-Jung, Former President of the Republic of Korea, sharing his views at the “Future of the Korean Peninsula”

Asia Strategic Insight Roundtable in Seoul, Republic of Korea, 2004: Kim Dae-Jung, Former President of the Republic of Korea, sharing his views at the “Future of the Korean Peninsula”.

Ban Ki Moon, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea, celebrating his birthday at the Welcome Reception

Asia Strategic Insight Roundtable in Seoul, Republic of Korea, 2004: Ban Ki Moon, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea, celebrating his birthday at the Welcome Reception.

Traditional Drum Performance

World Economic Forum on East Asia in Tokyo, Japan, 2006: Traditional Drum Performance.

Victor Chu, Chairman, First Eastern Investment Group, Mari Elka Pangestu, Minister of Trade, Indonesia, Klaus Schwab, Executive Chairman, World Economic Forum, Mohd Najib Bin Tun Abdul Razak, Deputy Prime Minister, Malaysia, Sadako Ogata, President, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JAICA), Ong Keng Yong, Secretary-General, ASEAN at the Plenary Session, “An East Asian Community”

World Economic Forum on East Asia in Tokyo, Japan, 2006: Victor Chu, Chairman, First Eastern Investment Group, Mari Elka Pangestu, Minister of Trade, Indonesia, Klaus Schwab, Executive Chairman, World Economic Forum, Mohd Najib Bin Tun Abdul Razak, Deputy Prime Minister, Malaysia, Sadako Ogata, President, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JAICA), Ong Keng Yong, Secretary-General, ASEAN at the Plenary Session, “An East Asian Community”.

Nik Gowing, Presenter, BBC News, in front of panellists at the session, “Global Risks: Managing Threats to Asia’s Prosperity”

World Economic Forum on East Asia in Singapore, 2007: Nik Gowing, Presenter, BBC News, in front of panellists at the session, “Global Risks: Managing Threats to Asia’s Prosperity”.

Lee Hsien-Loong, Prime Minister of Singapore, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, President of the Philippines and Carlos Ghosn, President and Chief Executive Officer, Renault, walking together to the Welcome Reception at the Istana

World Economic Forum on East Asia in Singapore, 2007: Lee Hsien-Loong, Prime Minister of Singapore, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, President of the Philippines and Carlos Ghosn, President and Chief Executive Officer, Renault, walking together to the Welcome Reception at the Istana-

Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, Chairman of the Board, Nestlé, Ralph R. Peterson, Chairman and CEO, CH2M Companies Ltd, Klaus Schwab, Executive Chairman, World Economic Forum, Peter Levene, Chairman, Lloyd’s, Jamshyd N. Godrej, Chairman and Managing Director, Godrej & Boyce Mfg Co. Ltd and Takao Kusakari, Chairman, Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line) pose for a photograph at the Opening Press Conference

World Economic Forum on East Asia in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 2008: Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, Chairman of the Board, Nestlé, Ralph R. Peterson, Chairman and CEO, CH2M Companies Ltd, Klaus Schwab, Executive Chairman, World Economic Forum, Peter Levene, Chairman, Lloyd’s, Jamshyd N. Godrej, Chairman and Managing Director, Godrej & Boyce Mfg Co. Ltd and Takao Kusakari, Chairman, Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line) pose for a photograph at the Opening Press Conference.

Participants at the Korea Japan Relations session

World Economic Forum on East Asia in Seoul, Republic of Korea, 2009: Participants at the Korea Japan Relations session.

Lee Myung-Bak, President of the Republic of Korea and Cho Suck-Rai, Chairman, Federation of Korean Industries walk together to the Farewell Reception at the Blue House

World Economic Forum on East Asia in Seoul, Republic of Korea, 2009: Lee Myung-Bak, President of the Republic of Korea and Cho Suck-Rai, Chairman, Federation of Korean Industries walk together to the Farewell Reception at the Blue House.

Abhisit Vejjajiva, Prime Minister of Thailand, Klaus Schwab, Executive Chairman, World Economic Forum, U Thein Sein, Prime Minister of Myanmar, Nguyen Tan Dung, Prime Minister of Vietnam, Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia, sit together waiting for the Opening Ceremony

World Economic Forum on East Asia in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 2010: Abhisit Vejjajiva, Prime Minister of Thailand, Klaus Schwab, Executive Chairman, World Economic Forum, U Thein Sein, Prime Minister of Myanmar, Nguyen Tan Dung, Prime Minister of Vietnam, Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia, sit together waiting for the Opening Ceremony.

Participants at a breakout discussion

World Economic Forum on East Asia in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 2010: Participants at a breakout discussion.

Klaus Schwab, Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum signals the opening of the Meeting in a traditional gong ceremony

World Economic Forum on East Asia in Jakarta, Indonesia, 2011: Klaus Schwab signals the opening of the Meeting in a traditional gong ceremony.

Lim Hng-Kiang, Minister for Trade and Industry, Singapore, Mari Elka Pangestu, Minister of Trade, Indonesia and Pascal Lamy, Director-General, World Trade Organization at a panel discussion “Open Borders: Building Trade Capacity in Emerging Economies”

World Economic Forum on East Asia in Jakarta, Indonesia, 2011: Lim Hng-Kiang, Minister for Trade and Industry, Singapore, Mari Elka Pangestu, Minister of Trade, Indonesia and Pascal Lamy, Director-General, World Trade Organization at a panel discussion “Open Borders: Building Trade Capacity in Emerging Economies”.

Klaus Schwab, Executive Chairman, World Economic Forum pose together with Organizing Committee members after the Closing Ceremony

World Economic Forum on East Asia in Jakarta, Indonesia, 2011: Klaus Schwab poses together with Organizing Committee members after the Closing Ceremony.

Deborah Kan, Executive Producer, Wall Street Journal, Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary-General, ASEAN, Joseph E. Stiglitz, Professor, Columbia University and Pailin Chuchottaworn, President and Chief Executive Officer, PTT Public Company at a panel discussion on “ASEAN Connectivity: Roadmap to 2015”

World Economic Forum on East Asia in Bangkok, Thailand, 2012: Deborah Kan, Executive Producer, Wall Street Journal, Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary-General, ASEAN, Joseph E. Stiglitz, Professor, Columbia University and Pailin Chuchottaworn, President and Chief Executive Officer, PTT Public Company at a panel discussion on “ASEAN Connectivity: Roadmap to 2015”.

Klaus Schwab, Executive Chairman, World Economic Forum greet Aung San Suu Kyi, Chairwoman, National League for Democracy, Myanmar before a session

World Economic Forum on East Asia in Bangkok, Thailand, 2012: Klaus Schwab greets Aung San Suu Kyi, Chairwoman, National League for Democracy, Myanmar before a session.

Geoffrey Lipman, President, International Coalition of Tourism Partners, Anthony F. Fernandes, Group Chief Executive Officer, Air Asia, Mari Elka Pangestu, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Indonesia, U Htay Aung, Union Minister for Hotels and Tourism, Myanmar, Ramon J. Jimenez, Secretary of Tourism, Philippines and Sébastian Marot, Executive Director, Friends-International at a panel discussion on “A Blueprint for Sustainable Tourism”

World Economic Forum on East Asia in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, 2013: Geoffrey Lipman, President, International Coalition of Tourism Partners, Anthony F. Fernandes, Group Chief Executive Officer, Air Asia, Mari Elka Pangestu, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Indonesia, U Htay Aung, Union Minister for Hotels and Tourism, Myanmar, Ramon J. Jimenez, Secretary of Tourism, Philippines and Sébastian Marot, Executive Director, Friends-International at a panel discussion on “A Blueprint for Sustainable Tourism”.

U Khin Aung Myint, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sai Mauk Kham, Vice President, Aung San Suu Kyi, Chairwoman, National League for Democracy and Shwe Mann, Member of Parliament, Myanmar greeting each other before the Opening Ceremony

World Economic Forum on East Asia in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, 2013: U Khin Aung Myint, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sai Mauk Kham, Vice President, Aung San Suu Kyi, Chairwoman, National League for Democracy and Shwe Mann, Member of Parliament, Myanmar greeting each other before the Opening Ceremony.

Group photo among participants for the Young Global Leaders Annual Summit 2013

World Economic Forum on East Asia in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, 2013: Group photo among participants for the Young Global Leaders Annual Summit 2013.

U Thein Sein, President of Myanmar hands over the ceremonial Swiss Bell to the next Host of the Meeting, Benigno Simeon Aquino III, President of the Philippines at the Closing Ceremony

World Economic Forum on East Asia in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, 2013: U Thein Sein, President of Myanmar hands over the ceremonial Swiss Bell to the next Host of the Meeting, Benigno Simeon Aquino III, President of the Philippines at the Closing Ceremony.

Cesar V. Purisima, Secretary of Finance, Philippines, Muhamad Chatib Basri, Mininster of Finance, Muhammad Lutfi, Minister of Trade, Indonesia, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Chief Executive Officer, PT Bank Mandiri, at the Indonesia Lunch Panel Discussion

World Economic Forum on East Asia in Metro Manila, Philippines, 2014: Cesar V. Purisima, Secretary of Finance, Philippines, Muhamad Chatib Basri, Mininster of Finance, Muhammad Lutfi, Minister of Trade, Indonesia, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Chief Executive Officer, PT Bank Mandiri, at the Indonesia Lunch Panel Discussion.

Participants at “Designing Solutions for Sustainable Health Systems”

World Economic Forum on East Asia in Metro Manila, Philippines, 2014: Participants at “Designing Solutions for Sustainable Health Systems”.

Lim Cheng-Teck, Chief Executive Officer, ASEAN, Standard Chartered Bank, Karen Davila, Anchor, ABS-CBN Television Network, Mustapa Mohamed, Minister of International Trade and Industry, Malaysia at “The New AEC Context”

World Economic Forum on East Asia in Jakarta, Indonesia, 2015: Lim Cheng-Teck, Chief Executive Officer, ASEAN, Standard Chartered Bank, Karen Davila, Anchor, ABS-CBN Television Network, Mustapa Mohamed, Minister of International Trade and Industry, Malaysia at “The New AEC Context”.

Participants at a breakout discussion

World Economic Forum on East Asia in Jakarta, Indonesia, 2015: Participants at a breakout discussion.

Philipp Rösler, Managing Director and Member of the Managing Board, World Economic Forum, Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia, Joko Widodo, President of Indonesia, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Deputy Prime Minister, Vietnam and Arkady Dvorkovich Deputy Prime Minister, Russian Federation, joined by Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneur Awardees

World Economic Forum on East Asia in Jakarta, Indonesia, 2015: Philipp Rösler, Managing Director and Member of the Managing Board, World Economic Forum, Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia, Joko Widodo, President of Indonesia, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Deputy Prime Minister, Vietnam and Arkady Dvorkovich Deputy Prime Minister, Russian Federation, joined by Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneur Awardees.

Ginanjar Kartasasmita, Coordinating Minister of Economics, Finance and Industry, Indonesia with Donald Johnston, Secretary-General, Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), Donald Tsang, Financial Secretary, Executive Council of Hong Kong SAR and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Vice President, Philippines at “Facing the Challenge of Governance”

East Asia Economic Summit in Singapore, 1999: Ginanjar Kartasasmita, Coordinating Minister of Economics, Finance and Industry, Indonesia with Donald Johnston, Secretary-General, Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), Donald Tsang, Financial Secretary, Executive Council of Hong Kong SAR and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Vice President, Philippines at “Facing the Challenge of Governance”.

The World Economic Forum on ASEAN is taking place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 1 to 2 June.

Have you read?
What is ASEAN? An explainer
What do the next 25 years hold for the ASEAN region?