President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday to lead the Philippine delegation at the 47th ASEAN Summit, marking the beginning of a tightly packed diplomatic agenda aimed at strengthening regional cooperation and advancing Philippine interests.

Accompanied by First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and key Cabinet officials—including Trade Secretary Cristina Roque and Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian—Marcos was welcomed by top Malaysian dignitaries and Philippine Ambassador Maria Angela Ponce.

In his departure message, the President underscored the importance of a responsive and transparent bureaucracy, stating, “The strength of ASEAN depends on the individual strength and prosperity of its members.”

Key Summit Highlights:

Timor-Leste Joins ASEAN: Marcos will sign the historic declaration admitting Timor-Leste as the 11th member of ASEAN.

Trade Agreements: He will witness the signing of amendments to the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement and the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area 3.0 Upgrade.

Economic Engagements: The President is set to participate in the 5th RCEP Leaders’ Summit, reinforcing the Philippines’ commitment to regional economic integration.

Bilateral Talks: Marcos will hold multiple meetings with fellow ASEAN leaders to discuss strategic partnerships and shared goals.

ASEAN Chairmanship: The Philippines will formally accept the ASEAN 2026 chairmanship from Malaysia during the summit’s closing ceremony on October 28.

Ambassador Ponce described the President’s schedule as “very full and substantive,” reflecting the administration’s proactive stance in regional diplomacy.

As the summit unfolds, all eyes are on how the Philippines will shape its leadership role in ASEAN moving forward.