Jakarta, Indonesia
September 4-7, 2023
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. joins fellow Member Leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its Dialogue Partners for the 43rd ASEAN Summit and Related Summits convening at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) in Jakarta, Indonesia from September 5-7, 2023.
Continuing the theme “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth” from the 42nd ASEAN Summit held in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia in May this year, the 43rd ASEAN Summit is anticipated to be a follow-up to the May Summit aimed at accelerating the momentum of the ASEAN Community building process. The event serves as a platform for Leaders to exchange views on key regional and international issues, build consensus on matters of mutual interest and provide policy direction for the years to come.
The 43rd ASEAN Summit and Related Summits include meetings with several Dialogue Partners of ASEAN and summits of ASEAN-led mechanisms wherein President Marcos Jr. is set to attend 13 Leaders’ level engagements, 12 of which are Summit sessions with other Leaders.
These include the following sessions:
• 43rd ASEAN Summit Plenary Session
• Opening Ceremony of the ASEAN-Indo Pacific Forum
• 43rd ASEAN Summit Free Trade Session
• 26th ASEAN-China Summit
• 24th ASEAN-Republic of Korea (ROK) Summit
• 26th ASEAN-Japan Summit
• 26th ASEAN Plus Three Summit
• 11th ASEAN-U.S. Summit
• ASEAN-Canada Summit
• 20th ASEAN-India Summit
• 18th East Asia Summit
• 3rd ASEAN-Australia Summit
• 31st ASEAN-United Nations (UN) Summit
During these engagements, the President plans to uphold and promote the Philippines’ interest in ASEAN, with a focus on strengthening food and energy security, harnessing the potential of the digital and creative industries and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and addressing the impact of climate change, among other priorities.
Furthermore, the Chief Executive intends to continue championing the protection and rights of Filipino migrant workers in crisis situations and combatting trafficking in persons, particularly through the use of technology.
Another priority is the promotion of a rules-based international order which includes the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in the South China Sea. The Philippines will continue to exercise freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea in accordance with international law, especially in light of China’s release of a new 10-dash official map claiming most of the South China Sea.
The leaders will also discuss various international issues, including the situation in Myanmar, the conflict in Ukraine and geopolitical rivalries in the Indo-Pacific region.
Over 90 outcome documents are targeted to be issued, adopted or noted during the series of Summits. Among the expected key outcome documents are:
• ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Strengthening Food Security and Nutrition in Response to Crises
• Individual Joint Statements on Strengthening Cooperation on Food Security between ASEAN, Australia, Canada and India
• ASEAN Guidelines on the Protection of Migrant Workers and Family Members in Crisis Situations
• ASEAN Leaders’ Statements on the Development of the Digital Economy Framework Agreement
• ASEAN Joint Statement on Climate Change for the 28th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
President Marcos Jr. is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Hun Manet of Cambodia, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh of Vietnam, President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea and Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão of Timor Leste, among others.
The 43rd ASEAN Summit and Related Summits will conclude with a handover ceremony of the ASEAN Chairmanship from Indonesia to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR).
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