PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. arrived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Saturday for a four-day visit to attend the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits, scheduled from October 26 to 28.
The plane carrying the President and his official delegation landed at Bunga Raya Complex, Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 2:50 p.m.
The President along with First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos were warmly received by Malaysian and Philippine officials.
In his departure statement prior to leaving Manila, President Marcos said he will join fellow ASEAN leaders in reaffirming their commitment to ASEAN Centrality amid pressing regional and global challenges such as the developments in the South China Sea, situation in Myanmar, impacts of climate change, economic volatility, and transnational crime.
President Marcos stressed that 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.
“I will also highlight the Philippines’ commitment to a rules-based multilateral trading system, a vital compass as we navigate today’s complex geoeconomic challenges,” the President said.
Among the highlights of the summit is the President’s signing of the Declaration on the Admission of Timor-Leste into ASEAN as its 11th Member. ASEAN currently comprises 10 member states including Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The President 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.
The President will also participate in high-level meetings, including the 28th ASEAN Plus Three Summit, 20th East Asia Summit, and the 5th Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Leaders’ Summit, among others, as well as several bilateral engagements with other world leaders.
The 47th ASEAN Summit is expected to produce 80 outcome documents, addressing a wide range of regional and global concerns, including health, climate change, anti–money laundering efforts, and education.
On the last day of the summit, the ASEAN Chairship will be ceremonially handed over from Malaysia to the Philippines, marking the beginning of the country’s hosting of the regional bloc in 2026. The Philippines last hosted the ASEAN Summit in 2017.
President Marcos is accompanied by Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, Trade and Industry Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rexlon Gatchalian, and Acting Communications Secretary Dave Gomez during his trip.
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