Prabowo Meets ASEAN Leaders in Cebu to Discuss These Issues
The 48th ASEAN Summit will take place in Cebu, Philippines, starting today, 7 May 2026, and running until 9 May 2026.
President Prabowo is scheduled to attend three high-level meetings, namely the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Summit on 7 May 2026, and on the following day, he will participate in the 48th ASEAN Summit, which will consist of two sessions: a plenary session and a retreat session.
“This 48th ASEAN Summit will focus on discussions regarding the impact of global conflicts on the region, particularly issues of energy resilience, food resilience, and economic stability in Southeast Asia,” stated Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto.
As part of the 48th ASEAN Summit events held in Cebu, Philippines, from 7 to 8 May 2026, the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Council or AECC Meeting will be held on 7 May 2026 at Dusit Thani Cebu, Philippines. The AECC Meeting is the annual gathering of the ASEAN Economic Community Council Ministers. This year, 2026, the Philippines, as the ASEAN Chair, will lead the meeting. Indonesia’s delegation is directly led by Coordinating Minister Airlangga as Indonesia’s AEC Council Minister.
Several agendas to be discussed in the AECC Meeting include, among others, the Current Global Landscape and Challenges, Priority Economic Deliverables, AEC Blueprint 2025, ACV 2045 and AEC Strategic Plan 2026-2030, AEC Works on Cross-Cutting Agenda, Timor Leste’s Membership in ASEAN, ASEAN DEFA Negotiations - Critical Issue for Guidance and Updated Work Plan for a Full Conclusion of DEFA, ADB Concept Note, and Preparation for the 48th ASEAN Summit.
As is known, ASEAN demonstrated strong economic resilience in 2025 with growth reaching 4.9%, surpassing initial projections. During its chairmanship in 2026, the Philippines is promoting the theme “Navigating Our Future Together”, which reflects collective efforts to strengthen the ASEAN region based on unity, policy direction clarity, and measurable common goals.
“ASEAN’s economic performance reflects the solid fundamentals of the Southeast Asian region amid global pressures,” explained Coordinating Minister Airlangga.
As is known, there are 19 Priority Economic Deliverables (PED) targeted for completion by ASEAN in 2026, supporting five main focuses: strengthening trade and investment; accelerating digital transformation; integrating SME development; utilising the creative economy and innovation; and sustainable and inclusive development. All PEDs are targeted for completion in 2026, led by AEC sectoral bodies and requiring cross-sectoral and cross-pillar support.
Regarding developments in the negotiations of the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), all substantive matters have generally been agreed upon, leaving only the legal scrubbing process before signing at the ASEAN Summit in November 2026.
“The implementation of DEFA will be able to boost ASEAN’s digital economy value to US$2 trillion by 2030, up from the initial estimate of US$1 trillion,” concluded Coordinating Minister Airlangga.
DEFA is one of the important legacies from Indonesia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2023, targeted for completion in 2026.