Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 28) — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will be making another international trip next month as he is set to fly to Indonesia for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit.
The trip slated from May 10 to 11 is upon the invitation of ASEAN chair Indonesian President Joko Widodo, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
In a media briefing on Friday, Angelito Nayan, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the DFA-Office of ASEAN Affairs, said Marcos is expected to “assert the importance of demonstrating ASEAN centrality in the region amid geopolitical rivalries.”
The chief executive is also seen to advance the Philippines’ priorities in ASEAN by boosting cooperation in various areas such as food and energy security, economic recovery, and protection of migrant workers, among others.
\”One of the important outcomes of this summit is the leaders’ declaration on combatting trafficking in persons caused by the use and misuse of technology. This [i]s something that the Philippines fully supports — owing to our advocacy in ASEAN on the protection of migrant workers, and the Philippines’ role as lead shepherd for ASEAN cooperation against trafficking,\” Nayan added.
