Marcos opens 49th ASEAN Summit in Manila

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has officially opened the 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits on Sunday in Manila, calling for greater regional unity and cooperation amid growing global challenges.

In his opening remarks, Marcos said ASEAN’s 11 member states must work together to address geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, climate change, emerging technologies and transnational threats.

He highlighted progress under the Philippines’ chairmanship, including stronger maritime cooperation, efforts to combat cybercrime and online scams, closer economic integration, and advancements in the ASEAN Power Grid and Digital Economy Framework Agreement.

He said the region’s strength lies in its ability to act collectively, with member states sharing responsibility and working towards common goals. The summit is being held under the theme, “Navigating Our Future, Together.”