KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak officially opened the 27th Asean Summit and Related Summits at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre earlier this morning.
The ceremony kicked off with Najib presenting his speech as Asean Chair, after a welcoming performance by a choir group entertaining the audience with the Asean anthem.
Asean heads of government and state then joined Najib on stage to do the signature Asean handshake for photo opportunities.
The crowded Plenary hall also witnessed 10 outstanding individuals and organisations from each member state receiving trophies and cash prizes of US$10,000 (RM43,000) each, under the Asean People’s Award.
Najib also received an outcome document produced during the Asean Young Leaders’ Summit by Malaysian Youth Council president Mua’amar Ghadafi Jamal Jamaludin.
The event was closed with this year’s Asean theme song ‘One’ sang by the choir group.
The city centre will be playing host to 10 summits attended by 18 world leaders including the Plenary meeting over the next two days.