The 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits opened on Wednesday morning, with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. attending the ceremony. The event was hosted by Sonexay Siphandone, the prime minister of Laos, and his wife, Vandara Siphandone. First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos accompanied President Marcos.
The President will be in Laos until Friday, participating in various ASEAN events and conferences. He arrived in Vientiane on Tuesday afternoon.
Before leaving the Philippines, Marcos said that ASEAN leaders would discuss strengthening resilience and improving regional connectivity to promote equitable growth and sustainable development. He also highlighted his involvement in discussions on cooperation in the areas of trade, investment, supply chain resilience, support for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, and mitigating the effects of climate change.
Marcos mentioned that foreign concerns, including the West Philippine Sea, Myanmar, Ukraine, and the Middle East, would be addressed during the summit. Emphasizing the importance of peacefully resolving conflicts in accordance with international law, he reiterated his commitment to promoting an open and rules-based international order.
