President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday, November 15, welcomed leaders and delegates from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its dialogue partners at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City for the opening of the 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits.
Marcos, accompanied by First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, received the arriving delegations at around 8:30 a.m. ahead of the opening ceremony.
Among those welcomed were Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Hang Chuon Naron, Lao Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and Myanmar's representative, Director-General U Han Win Aung.
During his opening remarks, Marcos welcomed the participating leaders and delegates and called for stronger regional unity and cooperation amid growing geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainties, climate change, and transnational threats.
“Geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, new technologies, climate change, and transnational threats are reshaping our region faster than any one country can respond to alone,” the President said.
He emphasized that ASEAN member states needed to work together in addressing common challenges, noting that no single country had all the resources and capabilities necessary to overcome them.
“No Member State possesses every resource, every capability, or every solution required by the challenges and opportunities that we face. But where national capacities are tested, regional strength reinforces,” Marcos said.
The President also highlighted the Philippines' priorities under its 2026 ASEAN chairmanship, anchored on three areas: peace and security, prosperity, and people empowerment.
He cited the progress made in strengthening maritime cooperation, addressing trafficking, cybercrime and online scams, advancing the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement, developing the ASEAN Power Grid, and strengthening regional trade and supply chains.
Marcos also underscored the importance of keeping the people at the center of ASEAN's initiatives through stronger disaster response, social protection, and digital resilience for the youth.
“This is the core of what it means to be part of ASEAN, different nations moving with common purpose, each sharing responsibility, unified in action for the strength of the whole,” he said.
He likewise recalled the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, emphasizing its principles of mutual respect, renunciation of the threat or use of force, and peaceful settlement of disputes.
Toward the end of his speech, Marcos called for continued trust and commitment among ASEAN member states as they worked toward shared goals and prepared for future regional challenges.
He then formally declared the 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits open, concluding his remarks with, “Maraming salamat po. Mabuhay ang ASEAN.”
The gathering marked the start of a series of high-level meetings hosted by the Philippines under its 2026 ASEAN chairmanship, carrying the theme, “Navigating Our Future, Together.”
The Related Summits with ASEAN's dialogue partners were scheduled for November 16 and 17, bringing together leaders and representatives from major partner countries and international organizations.
The Philippines was set to conclude its 2026 ASEAN chairmanship by turning over the leadership of the regional bloc to Singapore on November 17.
