World leaders here for Asean Summit
Photo: The Manila Times · Original story
WORLD leaders have begun arriving in the Philippines for the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit.On Saturday morning, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived at the airport and later met with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and signed a joint statement committing to a free trade agreement by 2027.Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia Dr. Hang Chuon Naron also arrived in Manila on Saturday.Hang Chuon is representing Prime Minister Hun Manet, who was staying in Phnom Penh to chair the 20th Francophonie Summit from Nov. 14 to 16, 2026 — which coincides with the Asean Summit schedule.Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese arrived on Saturday morning.Australia is among the regional global partners of Asean and is expected to sign a defense cooperation agreement with the Philippines.Another leader who arrived on Saturday was Timor-Leste Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao.Timor-Leste is the latest member state to join Asean, becoming a member last year.More leaders are expected to arrive for the summit on its opening day on Sunday.US President Donald Trump — who will arrive in Manila just hours before the closing ceremony of the Asean Summit on Nov. 17 — will extend his stay and leave on Nov. 19.Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said during a press briefing that while it was confirmed that the American leader will extend his stay, Malacañang does not have the details as to why he is doing so.“The Asean Summit will proceed as scheduled, even though US President Donald Trump will arrive late,” said Castro in Filipino.Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez told The Manila Times via a Viber message that Trump will still attend the Asean-US special summit on Nov. 17.From Manila, he will head to China for a trilateral meeting with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, scheduled for Nov. 18 and 19.Welcome messageFormer vice president and Naga City mayor Leni Robredo welcomed the delegations attending the 49th Asean Summit.In a video posted on Friday by the Naga City-based radio station Radyo Pilipinas Naga, Robredo extended the city’s welcome to the leaders.“Mabuhay! From the heart of Naga City, I extend our warmest welcome to all the Asean leaders and delegates attending the summit here in the Philippines,” she said.“As local leaders, we witness every day how regional cooperation translates into real hope and opportunities for ordinary families... May your discussions be guided by empathy, transparency, and a shared commitment to building resilient communities where no one is left behind,” Robredo added.The former vice president hoped for a fruitful summit for all participating leaders.While serving as vice president, Robredo was not invited to the main events of the 50th edition of the Asean Summit held in the country in 2017. However, she attended the opening and closing ceremonies of the regional meet and was the keynote speaker of the Asean Business and Investment Summit at the time.
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