MANILA -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. arrived in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Wednesday evening to attend the 40th and 41st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summits and Related Summits, his first participation in the summit as Philippine leader.

Flight PR001 carrying the President touched down at Phnom Penh International Airport around 7:43 p.m. (Philippine time).

In the coming days, President Marcos will join other leaders of ASEAN member states for the four-day summit, from November 10 to 13, to discuss current political, security, economic, and socio-cultural developments, as well as global issues affecting Southeast Asia and beyond.

The President is also expected to participate in summits with ASEAN’s dialogue partners including Australia, Canada, China, Japan, India, the Republic of Korea and the United States, to review both existing and new areas of cooperation and exchange views on regional and international issues.

Vowing to promote the Philippines’ interests in the regional summit, the President said he will emphasize regional cooperation on maritime security, climate change, food security, health cooperation, and economic recovery.

Regional issues such as the pandemic and the situation in Myanmar, developments in the South China Sea, and the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, will also be discussed.

President Marcos will also hold bilateral meetings with some of his ASEAN counterparts and ASEAN’s dialogue partners to seek further cooperation in key priorities, as well as address the most pressing regional issues.

He is also scheduled to meet the Filipino community in Cambodia before departing for the Philippines. (PND)