Southeast Asian Leaders Begin Arriving in Cebu Ahead of the 48th ASEAN Summit

Cebu, Philippines (ANTARA) - Leaders and representatives from ASEAN member states began arriving in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, Philippines, ahead of the 48th ASEAN Summit and a series of other meetings on Friday (8/5).

The Philippines is serving as the hub for regional discussions amid economic uncertainties and escalating crises in the Middle East.

Myanmar’s Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, U Hau Khan Sum, was the first ASEAN member state representative to arrive in Cebu on Wednesday afternoon (6/5) local time. Myanmar is the only ASEAN member state not represented by its head of government at this summit.

Later on Wednesday afternoon, Brunei’s Prime Minister Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah arrived around 6:30 p.m. local time, followed by the arrival of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., who reached Cebu at 9:14 p.m. local time after completing six official agendas in Manila.

On Thursday afternoon, President Marcos is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Hung.

As the holder of the ASEAN Chairmanship for 2026, President Marcos will then lead the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Summit, before hosting the ASEAN leaders alongside First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos.

On Friday (8/5), all leaders and representatives from ASEAN member states will participate in the 48th ASEAN Summit.

Previously, the Philippine government made adjustments to the ASEAN Summit preparations to cut costs, including changing the format of hundreds of agendas and meetings to virtual sessions and shortening preparatory activities.

These adjustments were made while maintaining the focus of this year’s ASEAN Summit on regional cooperation, food security, energy stability, and protection of migrant workers.