President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will head to Kuala Lumpur on October 25 to join fellow Southeast Asian leaders at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed on Friday.
The regional meeting, scheduled from October 26 to 28, is expected to conclude with the signing of over 80 documents, including landmark agreements such as the Declaration on the Admission of Timor-Leste into ASEAN as the bloc’s 11th member, the Second Protocol to Amend the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA), and the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area 3.0 Upgrade.
DFA Assistant Secretary Angelica Escalona described the summit as an avenue for regional leaders “to provide policy direction for ASEAN, build consensus on matters of mutual interest, and exchange views on key regional and international issues.”
Escalona said President Marcos will use the gathering to promote Philippine priorities, emphasizing efforts to “strengthen security and stability, enhance economic cooperation, and broaden engagement with dialogue partners.”
She highlighted the ASEAN-China free trade upgrade as “one of the most important economic partnerships of ASEAN,” noting that the updated deal will align the bloc with current global realities and deepen cooperation in green and digital economies. “This will also empower micro, small and medium enterprises,” she added.
While the Philippines continues to push for the completion of a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, Escalona clarified that Manila views its relations with Beijing as multifaceted. “West Philippine Sea is not the sum total of our relations with China,” she said.
ASEAN leaders will also discuss pressing regional concerns such as the crisis in Myanmar, global economic uncertainties, and other geopolitical challenges.
Marcos is expected to hold several bilateral meetings with other heads of state on the sidelines of the summit. The DFA, however, said specific schedules are still being finalized.
The summit will culminate with the official turnover of the ASEAN Chairmanship to the Philippines on October 28, marking the country’s hosting of the regional bloc for the coming year.
