(Screenshot / Sekretariat Presiden Youtube)
LABUAN BAJO, Indonesia—President Ferdinand “Bongbong”Marcos arrived here on Tuesday as he is set to take part at the 42nd Association of Southeast Asian Leaders’ (Asean) Summit on May 10 and 11.
In his pre-departure speech, Marcos said he will promote and protect the interests of the Philippines before the Summit,
Marcos, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Senior Deputy House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and other members of his official delegation landed at the Komodo Airport at 4:53 p.m.
Marcos will attend on Wednesday the leaders’ summit at the Meruorah Hotel here, where he and other Southeast Asian nation leaders will be received and welcomed by Indonesian President Joko Widodo.
During the summit, Asean leaders are expected to adopt a framework on Timor Leste’s full membership to the regional bloc, as noted by Foreign Affairs spokesperson Teresita Daza at a press conference in Malacañang last April 28.
Marcos will also take part in the 15th Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asian Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Summit on Thursday, May 11.
Marcos said his participation in the BIMP-EAGA Summit is an opportunity to highlight the importance of strengthening cooperation in the sub region to sustain its thriving economy.
The President is expected to hold bilateral meetings with some of his fellow Asean leaders.
So far, Malacañang confirmed that he will be having a bilateral meeting with Vietnam Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
