Marcos arrives in Malaysia for ASEAN Summit

KUALA LUMPUR - President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Sunday arrived in Malaysia to participate in the 46th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits. 

The plane carrying the President and his delegation landed at 5:41 p.m. at the Bunga Raya VIP Complex of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. 

The country’s caretakers while the President is away are Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla, and Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III.

Marcos is joined by First Lady Louise ''Liza'' Araneta-Marcos, Presidential Communications Secretary Jay Ruiz, Trade and Industry Secretary Christina Aldeguer-Roque, and Mindanao Development Authority head Tereso Magno.

During the Summit, Marcos is expected to push for the country's sovereignty amid geopolitical tensions, the need for an ethical and responsible artificial intelligence, as well as the country's posture on US tariffs.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) earlier said 22 documents are expected from the Summit, including the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on ASEAN Vision 2045, joint statements from the 2nd ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and the ASEAN-GCC-China Summits.  

Marcos will also hold several bilateral meetings and participate in nine leaders' engagements, including sessions with the ASEAN Business Advisory Council, youth representatives, and parliamentarians.

He will also participate in the 16th Brunei, Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Summit, which the President will chair; the 2nd ASEAN-GCC Summit; and the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit. —RF, GMA Integrated News