YANGON, 24 September 2026 — Digital senior officials and telecommunications regulators from ASEAN Member States (AMS) convened in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for the2nd ASEAN Digital Senior Officials’ Meeting – ASEAN Telecommunications Regulators’ Council (ADGSOM–ATRC) Leaders’ Retreat of 2026, held from 23-24 September.
Hosted by the Ministry of Digital Development and Communication and Posts and Telecommunications Department of Myanmar, the retreat brough together senior leaders, representatives from across AMS, the ASEAN Secretariat, and external partners to deliberate on key topics shaping ASEAN’s digital future.
The meeting highlighted coordinated efforts to build an integrated digital economy that benefits all. The Chair reaffirmed the vision for continuous regional cooperation to foster a safe, sustainable and resilient digital ecosystem infrastructure development, policy coordination, and strong technology governance.
Key outcomes from the meeting include further key discussions around the establishment of the AI Safety Network (ASEAN AI Safe), following previous endorsements. The meeting also noted the latest status of the implementation of the ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2030, including upcoming ADGSOM-ATRC projects and Workplan activities for 2027.
Additionally, the meeting reviewed current ASEAN Digital Ministers’ Meeting (ADGMIN), ADGSOM and ATRC terms of reference, as well as the proposal to establish a case-by-case ADGMIN Retreat and forum. Further discussions addressed the workplans and activities of Working Group on Digital Data Governance (WG-DDG), Working Group on AI Governance (WG-AI), Working Group on Submarine Cables (WG-SC), Working Group on Anti-Online Scams (WG-AS), and Working Group on Telecommunications Infrastructure (WG-TI).
Key partnership dialogue continued with external partners, namely including China, Japan, and the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity. ASEAN reaffirmed its commitment to working with development and external partners in advancing policy, AI governance, digital trust and further emerging technology infrastructure capacity-building in the region.
The retreat concluded with a strengthened commitment for strong coordination in fostering an inclusive digital transformation. The outcomes of the 2nd ADGSMO-ATRC Leaders’ Retreat of 2026 will be finalised at the upcoming 7th ADGMIN in January 2027 in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam.
