Marcos to hold several bilateral meetings at ASEAN Summit - DFA

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. will have several bilateral meetings with other world leaders on the sidelines of the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Indonesia, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Thursday. 

Marcos will meet with Cambodia's new Prime Minister Hun Manet, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, Timor Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão, and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. 

The discussions will likely focus on bilateral cooperation, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Daniel Espiritu said at a Palace press briefing. 

"With Vietnam, the focus will be on strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries and, of course, cooperation on rice and food security. With Xanana Gusmão of Timor Leste, of course the President will congratulate him on his assumption of office last July, but at the same time we will reassure Timor Leste of our cooperation with their country in the years to come, especially in their preparations for final membership in ASEAN," Espiritu said. 

"And then with Hun Manet, again, the President intends to congratulate the new Prime Minister on his assumption of office… and again will be discussing matters of mutual concern between our two countries," he said. 

"And then, with President Yoon Suk Yeol of Korea, we’ll be discussing new areas of cooperation in time for the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea," Espiritu added. 

The 43rd ASEAN Summit will take place from September 5 to 7 in Jakarta. 

According to Espiritu, the summit will serve as a platform for leaders to exchange views on key regional and international issues, build consensus on matters of mutual interest, and provide policy direction for the ASEAN community in the years to come.

Espiritu said Marcos is expected to attend at least 13 leader-level engagements during the summit, including the 43rd ASEAN Summit Plenary Session, the Opening Ceremony of the ASEAN Indo-Pacific Forum, and the 43rd ASEAN Summit Retreat Session. 

The President will also attend the 26th ASEAN-China Summit, the 24th ASEAN-Republic of Korea Summit, the 26th ASEAN-Japan Summit, the 26th ASEAN Plus Three Summit, the ASEAN-US Summit, and the ASEAN-Canada Summit. 

He will also participate in the 20th ASEAN-India Summit, the 18th East Asia Summit, the 3rd ASEAN-Australia Summit, and the 30th ASEAN-UN Summit. 

Espiritu said that during these engagements, Marcos will continue to uphold and promote the Philippines' interests in other countries.

"He will highlight our advocacies in strengthening food and energy security, harnessing the potential of the digital to create industries and MSMEs, and addressing the impacts of climate change, among others," Espiritu said. 

"The President will also continue to emphasize our efforts to protect migrant workers in crisis situations as well as combating trafficking in persons, especially with the use or abuse of technology. Other priority areas of cooperation with dialogue partners will also be discussed," he added. 

Espiritu also disclosed that more than 90 outcome documents are targeted to be issued, adopted, or noted during the summits. 

He said the key outcome documents would include the following: 

• ASEAN leaders’ declaration on strengthening food security and nutrition in response to crisis;
• Individual joint statements on strengthening cooperation on food security between ASEAN, Australia, Canada, and India; 
• ASEAN guidelines on the protection of migrant workers and family members in crisis situation; 
• ASEAN leaders' statement on the development of the digital economy framework agreement; and 
• ASEAN joint statement on climate change to the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The 43rd ASEAN Summit will conclude on September 7 with a handover ceremony of the ASEAN chairmanship from Indonesia to Laos.  — VBL, GMA Integrated News