Marcos arrives in Lao PDR for ASEAN Summit; to meet first with Pinoy community

VIENTIANE —  President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Tuesday afternoon arrived in Lao PDR to participate in the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits.

The presidential plane carrying Marcos and the entire Philippine delegation arrived at Wattay International Airport at 3:16 p.m. (Lao PDR time).

Marcos' delegation included Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, and Presidential Communications Office Acting Secretary Cesar Chavez.

Marcos and First Lady Louise ''Liza'' Araneta-Marcos were warmly welcomed at the airport by Philippine Ambassador to Lao PDR Deena Joy Amatong, along with other officials from the Philippine Embassy in Vientiane.

Lao PDR Minister of Mining and Energy Phoxay Xayasone and his wife Phonethida Sayida also welcomed the First Couple, along with Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director-General for Consular Department Soulisack Soulinthone and Protocol Department Deputy Director-General Outtama Sithiphong.

Marcos is set to meet with the Filipino community in the evening. Around 400 Filipinos are expected to welcome the President during the event, the Department of Foreign Affairs has said.

On Wednesday, the 44th ASEAN Summit will start with its plenary session. It will be followed by the 45th ASEAN Summit Retreat Session in which leaders will be discussing regional and international issues, particularly geopolitical matters.

There will also be three interfaces with sectoral bodies of ASEAN, including the ASEAN Interparliamentary Assembly; the ASEAN Business Advisory Council; and the interface with ASEAN youth.

During the Summit, Marcos is expected to tackle issues about the West Philippine Sea and the problem of human trafficking among ASEAN member states.

While the President is in Vientiane, the country's caretakers are Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin ''Boying'' Remulla, and Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III. — RSJ/VAL/VBL, GMA Integrated News