Marcos back in Manila after ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. arrived in Manila on early Wednesday morning after his participation in the recently-concluded 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in Kuala Lumpur earlier this week.

Marcos’ four-minute recorded arrival statement was posted on social media shortly before 3 a.m. Wednesday.

The President said the ASEAN Summit was an opportunity for the ASEAN’s 11 member-states and partners to discuss “how to navigate our future together amidst the various geopolitical and economic challenges that we face domestically, bilaterally, regionally, and globally.”

“We discussed significant international issues that emerging challenges that not only impact our peoples and our nation, but also the entire region, especially the West Philippine Sea,” Marcos said.

He maintained that the Philippines “will continue to remain firm, calm and resolute in defending our sovereignty, our sovereign rights and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea in accordance with, of course, international law.”

The President added that the country will continue to strengthen its partnerships with countries that share its values and commitment to peace, stability, and economic progress.

“The leaders and I spoke about future-proofing our region through economic cooperation and sustainable growth,” he said, adding that the ASEAN leaders reaffirmed their collective commitment to “rules-based, open, inclusive, transparent, and non-discriminatory multilateral system.”

The regional bloc also strengthened its trade with external partners through upgrades in the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement, amendments in free trade agreements, and utilization of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

“At a time when the rules-based trading system faces significant challenges, these agreements will provide transparency, stability, and predictability – key foundations for building confidence among businesses and investors, and for sustaining ASEAN’s role as a driver of regional and global growth,” Marcos said.

He also stressed that economic development goes hand in hand with strengthening the social-cultural community.

“We discussed the progress achieved and the actions moving forward for the environment, climate change, education, green jobs, and health,” he said.

The ASEAN leaders met with their counterparts from the United States, Japan, India, China, the Republic of Korea, the United Nations, New Zealand, Australia to take stock of the progress of their dialogue partnerships “and how we envision the way forward together.”

Marcos also reported on the bilateral meetings he had with the leaders of Cambodia, Canada, Thailand, Japan, European Union, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, and with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

“We reaffirmed our commitment to deepen bilateral relations and discussed cooperation on many fields of mutual interest, fields such as security and defense, maritime, climate action, trade, investment, agriculture, and people-to-people relations,” the President said.

In addition, the ASEAN leaders discussed the civil unrest in Myanmar and the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus to bring about a peaceful and lasting solution that is Myanmar-owned and Myanmar-led.

They also welcomed the full accession of Timor-Leste as the 11th member of the regional bloc, with Marcos calling it a “historic step that reaffirms ASEAN’s commitment to unity and inclusivity.”

“We remain committed to pursuing initiatives that will support Timor-Leste’s capacity to assume its obligations as a full member of ASEAN, with the end goal of further building a people-centered ASEAN,” the President said.

Marcos also thanked the regional bloc’s leaders for supporting for the Philippines’ chairship of the ASEAN in 2026.

“As the 2026 Chair of ASEAN, the Philippines looks forward to building on the gains of Malaysia's inclusivity and sustainability theme and carry ASEAN forward as we, as is our theme, ‘Navigate our Future, Together,’” he said.

The President received the gavel that symbolized the chairship of the ASEAN from Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during the summits’ closing ceremony. — JMA, GMA Integrated News