Kuala Lumpur: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. departed for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to attend the 46th ASEAN Summit, where regional leaders are expected to formulate a collective response to the United States' new tariff measures. Before boarding his flight at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, Marcos noted that informal consultations had already been initiated among ASEAN leaders, indicating a shift in the bloc's economic stance amid escalating global trade tensions.
According to Philippines News Agency, Marcos mentioned that he had preliminary discussions with the Chair of ASEAN, Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, regarding the proper response of ASEAN as a group towards the new tariff schedule being imposed by the United States. He emphasized the importance of building consensus among the diverse ASEAN member states, each with varying trade dependencies.
The unexpected trade focus brings new urgency to the high-level meetings, which were initially centered around the summit's core theme of Inclusivity and Sustainability. Beyond trade, Marcos stated that the Philippines would continue to advocate for ASEAN's central role in addressing regional challenges, including tensions in the South China Sea, the Myanmar crisis, and the governance of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence. He highlighted the importance of developing a regional framework for ethical and responsible AI, grounded in shared ASEAN values.
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, Marcos will participate in the Plenary and Retreat sessions of the summit, engage with ASEAN parliamentarians, youth, and business leaders, and witness the signing of the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on ASEAN 2045. He is also set to chair the 16th Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Summit and join the ASEAN-GCC and ASEAN-GCC-China Summits. Bilateral meetings with leaders of Laos, Kuwait, and Vietnam are also possible on the sidelines.
During Marcos' absence, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin will lead the government's caretaker committee, alongside Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrad Estrella III.
