Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
October 19-21, 2023

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. embarks on a trip to the Middle East to participate in the inaugural Association of Southeast Asian Nations – Gulf Cooperation Council (ASEAN-GCC) Summit in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on October 19-21, 2023.

The ASEAN-GCC Summit is the first ever meeting of leaders from the Southeast Asian region with the Gulf nations, which comprises of Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), aiming to further strengthen relations between the two regional blocs. According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Summit seeks to endorse the framework of cooperation between the ASEAN and GCC geared towards enhancing various areas of mutual concerns such as energy security, food stability and economic cooperation, among others.

On the sidelines of the Summit, President Marcos Jr. is set to meet and forge partnerships with the Ministry of Investments and the business community in a roundtable meeting anchored in advancing investment opportunities between the Philippines and Saudi Arabia.

Further, the President is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with his counterparts from Saudi Arabia and Bahrain to reaffirm the country’s diplomatic ties with the two Arab nations, as well as to discuss regional and international issues that include the protection of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East and the development assistance to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Wrapping up his visit, the Chief Executive likewise takes the opportunity to meet with thousands of Filipinos living and working in Saudi Arabia during a community gathering.

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