KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 -- The 46th Asean Summit senior officials' meetings are underway at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, and while diplomacy is at its core, Malaysia is putting its cultural richness in the spotlight.

Held on May 26 and 27, the summit is more than a platform for regional dialogue. It also doubles as a celebration of Malaysia's arts, heritage, hospitality and culinary diversity, offering delegates from Asean and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations a deeper taste of the host nation.

This marks Malaysia's fifth time hosting the summit, and this year's edition is especially significant.

It includes the second Asean-GCC Summit and the inaugural Asean-GCC-China Summit, signalling the bloc's expanding global reach and t...