President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will attend the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on May 26 to 27, where he will join fellow Southeast Asian leaders in addressing key regional issues, Malacañang confirmed Monday.
According to Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, President Marcos will take part in discussions focused on regional economic and security challenges, two of the most pressing concerns within the ASEAN bloc.
“Please expect that our President will arrive and attend the said ASEAN Summit,” Castro said during a press briefing.
The summit comes at a time when ASEAN member-states are facing heightened economic uncertainty and growing security concerns across the Indo-Pacific region.
Mr. Marcos is expected to push for deeper cooperation and dialogue on these matters, building on earlier conversations with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Castro noted that over the weekend, President Marcos and Prime Minister Anwar had a brief but meaningful exchange, where they touched on shared concerns about the region’s economic outlook and security landscape.
Both leaders expressed interest in continuing those discussions during the upcoming summit.
Aside from policy matters, Prime Minister Anwar also wished President Marcos good luck in the upcoming Philippine elections, according to Castro.
The ASEAN Summit will bring together leaders from the 10-member regional bloc to review cooperation initiatives, reaffirm unity, and chart a collective path forward amid global and regional shifts.
