LAPU-LAPU CITY (Cebu), May 7 (Bernama-PNA) -- Leaders and representatives of member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have begun arriving here for the 48th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings, as the Philippines takes centre stage in regional talks increasingly shaped by economic uncertainty and the escalating West Asia crisis.
Myanmar’s Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, U Hau Khan Sum, arrived in Cebu on Wednesday at noon, making him the first ASEAN representative to arrive for the annual regional meet, the Philippine News Agency (PNA) reported.
Myanmar is the only ASEAN member state not represented by its head of government during this year’s summit.
Later in the evening, Sultan of Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah arrived at about 6.30 pm, followed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. who arrived at 9.14 pm after completing at least six official engagements in Metro Manila.
Other ASEAN leaders are expected to arrive Thursday ahead of the ASEAN Leaders’ Summit.
Marcos is also scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng at the Shangri-La Mactan on Thursday afternoon.
The President will later lead the Special Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Summit before hosting a dinner for ASEAN leaders together with First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos.
All regional leaders and representatives will convene on Friday for the ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting to be chaired by Marcos.
As chair of this year’s ASEAN Summit, Marcos said the Philippines will push discussions on energy security amid global oil supply concerns triggered by the ongoing conflict in the West Asia.
The Philippine government earlier recalibrated summit preparations to reduce costs, including shifting hundreds of meetings online and shortening preparatory activities, while maintaining the summit’s focus on regional cooperation, food security, energy stability and the protection of migrant workers.
-- BERNAMA-PNA
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