President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will participate in the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits to be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from October 26 to 28.

In a Palace press briefing on Friday, Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Angelica Escalona said the President will be joined by leaders of other ASEAN member-states, ASEAN dialogue partners, and international organizations at the invitation of Malaysian Prime Minister Datu Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who serves as this year’s ASEAN chair.

“The summit is a mechanism for leaders to provide policy direction for ASEAN, build consensus on matters of mutual interests and exchange views on key regional and international issues,” Escalona said.

Escalona said Marcos is expected to attend 14 leaders’ level meetings and three signing ceremonies.

The President will be signing the Declaration on the Admission of Timor-Leste into ASEAN as its 11th member and will also witness the signing of the Second Protocol to Amend the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) and the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area 3.0 Upgrade.

“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 said.

She said the leaders are also expected to discuss various global issues impacting the region, including the situation in Myanmar, economic uncertainties, and other geopolitical and geoeconomic challenges.

To date, around 80 outcome documents are expected to be issued, adopted, or noted during the summits, she added.

On the sidelines of the summits, Marcos is also expected to hold several bilateral meetings with his counterparts to further strengthen ties and explore new areas of cooperation.

During the last day of the summit on October 28, Escalona said there will be a closing and handover ceremony of the ASEAN chairship from Malaysia to the Philippines.

“Building upon the success of previous ASEAN chairs, the Philippines will take this opportunity to introduce how we will stir the future of the region and beyond by galvanizing community-building efforts during our chairship,” she said. Presidential News Desk