Kuala lumpur: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will take part in the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Meetings in Kuala Lumpur from Oct. 26 to 28, when Malaysia formally hands over the ASEAN chairship to the Philippines at the closing ceremony.
According to Philippines News Agency, Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Angelica Escalona said that the President is set to join 14 leaders' level meetings and may also hold several bilateral meetings with counterparts from yet-to-be-announced countries on the sidelines. President Marcos will sign the Declaration on the Admission of Timor-Leste into ASEAN as the bloc's 11th member. He will also witness the signing of two other key regional deals - the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area 3.0 Upgrade and the Second Protocol to Amend the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA).
Escalona mentioned that Manila particularly looks forward to the upgrading of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area as this would make the region's economic cooperation with China 'more comprehensive and aligned to global realities.' The upgrade would allow deeper cooperation in green and digital economies while empowering micro, small, and medium enterprises.
'In all these engagements, the President will advance Philippine interests in ASEAN by strengthening security and stability, by enhancing economic cooperation and broadening engagement with dialogue partners,' Escalona stated. The summit will also tackle pressing global and regional concerns, including the crisis in Myanmar, economic uncertainties, and ongoing geopolitical and geoeconomic challenges affecting the region. Peace and security issues, along with maritime cooperation, are also among the priority topics.
Across the series of meetings, Escalona said ASEAN member states and partners are expected to issue, adopt, or note a total of 80 outcome documents. Malaysia will formally turn over its chairship to the Philippines at the closing ceremony on Oct. 28. 'Building upon the success of previous ASEAN chairs, the Philippines will take this opportunity to introduce how we will steer the future of the region and beyond by galvanizing community-building efforts during our chairship,' Escalona added.
