Southeast Asia's annual summit being held in Kuala Lumpur next week will not be another "talkshop", but will adopt a grassroots approach to create a feeling of regional community, Malaysia said.

"The leaders have the intention to make sure that this summit will pave the way for... Asean citizens to feel a sense of 'Asean-ness'," Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said ahead of the December 11-12 summit.

"We look forward to this summit not being perceived as a 'talkshop' between the leaders," he told a news conference, adding that the meeting would operate on a dual track along with civil society groups and business associations.

Syed Hamid also downplayed suggestions that the inaugural East Asia summit which follows the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) leaders' talks would eventually obliterate smaller groupings.

"There has always been some expression of concern whether we are going to replicate, or to overwhelm such processes," he said.

"(But) we should not be challenging other processes or bodies. We should add value to existing bodies - that's our intention."

Looking at opportunities

The minister said the East Asia summit, which groups the 10-member Asean along with Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea, would be more of a strategic organisation with a wider geopolitical view.

Far from being nervous about stepping up onto the world stage with regional giants India and China, the birth of the forum indicated a new maturity in the regional outlook, he said.

"I think it shows that we have reached a stage. We recognise the challenges, at the same time we also look at the opportunities.

"Looking at India and China, these are two big giants but you can't just say we're scared that they will overwhelm us. I think with 500 million population within Asean, we intend to play a role ... and to give meaning to the people of the countries within Asean."

Syed Hamid said there was no need to be concerned about the rise of India and China because the growth of their consumer economies would boost Southeast Asian exports.

"I think (we) have to find a niche for ourselves. And we know that in a globalised world there is no way we can escape competition so we must make ourselves better."