Brussels, Belgium
December 12, 2022

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. arrived in the Kingdom of Belgium to join his fellow Heads of State/Government from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU) in the ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit that will be held on December 14, 2022.

First Lady Louise Araneta Marcos and the rest of the Philippine delegation joined the President in his inaugural visit to Europe.

Charges d’Affaires Pablito Mendoza (Philippine Embassy in Belgium), Deputy Chief of Protocol Anne Vandormael (Belgium Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation), Chief of Protocol Thierry Bechet (European External Action Service) and other officials from the Philippine Embassy welcomed the Chief Executive.

The ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit serves to celebrate 45 years of diplomatic relations between the two regional organizations that formally started on 14 December 1977 based on shared values and principles such as effective multilateralism, international law and fair trade.

As the current Country Coordinator on ASEAN-EU Dialogue Relations, the Philippines is responsible for ASEAN’s interest in strengthening diplomatic ties with its Dialogue and Strategic Partners.

Leaders from both regional blocs are expected to tackle global and regional security challenges, sustainable development, business investment and economic cooperation, among other topics of discussion.

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