President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday for a four-day visit to attend the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, where regional leaders are expected to discuss key geopolitical and economic issues confronting Southeast Asia.
The presidential aircraft carrying President Marcos, First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos, and members of the Philippine delegation landed at the Bunga Raya Complex of Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 2:50 p.m. They were greeted by Malaysian and Philippine officials upon arrival.
The 47th ASEAN Summit, scheduled from October 26 to 28, will focus on strengthening regional cooperation amid rising tensions in the South China Sea, the ongoing crisis in Myanmar, and the global impacts of climate change and economic instability.
Before his departure from Manila, President Marcos said he would reaffirm the Philippines’ commitment to upholding ASEAN Centrality and maintaining peace and stability in the region.
“The Philippines will continue to champion an open, inclusive, and rules-based international order, advocating for the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law,” the President said during his pre-departure address.
“We will also underscore our commitment to a rules-based multilateral trading system as we navigate today’s complex geoeconomic challenges,” he added.
Among the expected highlights of the summit is the formal admission of Timor-Leste as ASEAN’s 11th member, an event Mr. Marcos will witness as one of the signatories of the declaration.
The President will also take part in the signing of the Second Protocol to Amend the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement and the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area 3.0 Upgrade.
President Marcos is slated to attend several high-level meetings, including the 28th ASEAN Plus Three Summit with China, Japan, and South Korea; the 20th East Asia Summit; and the 5th Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Leaders’ Summit. He is also expected to hold bilateral discussions with other heads of government on the sidelines.
The summit is anticipated to yield around 80 outcome documents tackling a range of regional concerns, from education and health cooperation to climate resilience, energy transition, and anti–money laundering initiatives.
On October 28, Malaysia will formally turn over the ASEAN Chairship to the Philippines, marking the start of Manila’s preparations to host the regional bloc in 2026. The Philippines last chaired ASEAN in 2017.
