PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. left yesterday afternoon for Malaysia to attend the 46th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit and Related Summits from May 26 to 27, where he intends to push for an inclusive and rules-based international order and the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law.
The President is also expected to uphold the Philippines’ sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea, as well as highlight the need for a “consensus” response to the new tariff schedule that the United States has imposed.
The President left around 2 p.m. for Kuala Lumpur with First Lady Louise “Liza” Araneta-Marcos, Communications Secretary Jay Ruiz, Trade and Industry Secretary Christina Aldeguer-Roque, and Mindanao Development Authority head Tereso Magno.
The plane carrying the President, First Lady, and their party landed at the Bunga Raya VIP complex of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 5:41 p.m. yesterday.
The country’s caretakers while the President is in Malaysia are Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, and Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III.
The President, in his departure speech, said he will promote the Philippines’ interest in Asean where he will join fellow leaders in advancing regional cooperation, addressing shared challenges, and promoting this year’s summit theme of “Inclusivity and Sustainability.”
Marcos expects the discussions to focus on key issues such as economic integration, maritime security, climate change, and digital transformation, among others.
“I will join fellow Asean leaders in reaffirming our commitment to Asean centrality as we navigate pressing regional and global challenges, including developments in the South China Sea, the situation in Myanmar, threats to regional peace and maritime security as well as the far-reaching impact of climate change, economic volatility and digital disruption,” he said.
He said the discussions in Asean would also include the US’s imposition of unilateral tariffs, which had already been preliminarily discussed by the regional bloc, as he emphasized the need for a “proper response of Asean as a group towards the new tariff schedule that is being imposed by the United States.”
“It is something that we have to discuss and it’s something that we have to respond to. And considering the many different situations that the member states of Asean have concerning trade, and specifically the tariff schedule imposed by the United States, we must find a way to find consensus among the disparate situations that the member states are operating under,” he added.
The President said he would also champion the country’s advocacies in promoting an open and inclusive and rules based international order and the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law.
Marcos said he would also highlight the Philippines’ commitment to the development of a common regional framework for ethical and responsible AI, or artificial intelligence, aligned with Asean values.
During the summit, he is expected to attend several engagements, including the Leaders’ Plenary and Retreat Sessions, hold separate meetings with the Asean Business Advisory Council (ABAC), Asean Youth representatives and Asean Parliamentarians, and a signing ceremony for the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Asean 2045 on May 26.
On May 27, the President will chair and preside over the 16th Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (Bimp-Eaga) Summit and attend the Asean-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit and the Asean-GCC-China Summit.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said 22 documents are expected from the summit.
Marcos is also expected to have bilateral meetings with Laos, Kuwait and Vietnam.
This is Marcos’ second trip to Malaysia as president and his second trip abroad this year.
