Marcos to participate in 47th ASEAN Summit in Malaysia

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. will participate in the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits in Malaysia next week. 

The 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Kuala Lumpur will take place from October 26 to 28, 2025, according to Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesperson Angelica Escalona. 

She said Marcos is expected to advance the Philippines' interests during his meetings, which include 14 leaders-level meetings as well as three signing ceremonies.

The signing ceremonies include the Declaration on the Admission of Timor-Leste into ASEAN as its 11th member, Signing of the Second Protocol To Amend the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement, and the ASEAN-China Free Trade 3.0 Upgrade.

Bilateral meetings with other leaders will also take place. Asked if these include China and Japan, Escalona said, ''At the moment these are still for confirmation so the information will be shared in due course.''

Eyes on West Philippine Sea

When asked if the tension in the West Philippine Sea will be raised, Escalona said peace and security and maritime cooperation would surely be tackled but she could not say yet what would be Marcos' pronouncement on the matter.

''I cannot preempt what the President will say at the Summit but broadly speaking, peace and security, maritime cooperation are among the topics that will be discussed,'' she said. 

She added that the Philippines would work with other member states and China for the conclusion of an effective, substantive and legally binding Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said last April that ASEAN member-states and China have agreed to complete the Code of Conduct by 2026 despite contentious issues that have delayed its creation.

There are also 80 expected outcome documents to be signed during the Summit, Escalona said.

The chairmanship of the ASEAN Summit and Related Summits for 2026 will be turned over to the Philippines towards the end of the meetings.

Joining the President on this trip were Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro, Trade Secretary Cristina Aldeguer-Roque, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian, and Presidential Communications Office Acting Secretary Dave Gomez. — VDV, GMA Integrated News