President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta left Manila to attend the 46th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit (ASEAN) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Joining the President for the ASEAN summit are Trade Secretary Cristina Roque, Presidential Communications Office Secretary Jay Ruiz, and Mindanao Development Authority Secretary Leo Magno.
This theme of this year’s ASEAN summit is inclusivity and sustainability, which Marcos described as a shared commitment to a resilient, responsive and united region for its people.
In his departure statement, Marcos said that he would join ASEAN leaders in addressing regional and global challenges, including the situation in the South China Sea. The statement also mentioned the discussion continuance of ASEAN’s response regarding the new tariff schedule being imposed by the United States.
Marcos indicates his intention to emphasize the Philippines’ commitment to the development of responsible AI or artificial intelligence.
“I will also highlight the Philippines’ commitment to the development of a common regional framework for ethical and responsible AI or artificial intelligence aligned with ASEAN values. “ Marcos said.
In his closing remarks, Marcos underscores the Philippines’ dedication and cooperation for the advancement and well-being of every Filipino.
“As always, our participation in the ASEAN summit reaffirms our dedication to deepening regional cooperation and advancing the well-being of every Filipino and the entire Southeast Asian community,” Marcos added.
Besides the ASEAN Summit, President Marcos will also attend the 2nd ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit and the ASEAN-GCC-China Economic Summit.