Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (C) attends the ASEAN-Japan Summit via video confderence, October 27, 2021. (Photo: AFP/VNA)

PM Yaakob said he proposed the summit during a meeting with PM Kishida in Tokyo on Friday and the Japanese leader agreed to hold it next year. 

Mr. Yaakob also told PM Kishida that Malaysia would not compromise to any form of threat to its sovereignty in the South China Sea (called the East Sea in Vietnam). He noted that when handling complex issues relating to disputes in the South China Sea and inter-state relations, all parties involved must remain committed to maintaining freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.