President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. departed for Brussels, Belgium Sunday night, Dec.11, to participate in the European Union-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (EU-ASEAN) Business Summit, which he expects to be a productive and meaningful trip.
"After the successful series of summits hosted by ASEAN chair Cambodia last month, I look forward to productive and meaningful summit that recognizes ASEAN and the EU’s four and a half decades of longstanding relations," Marcos said in his departure speech.
The President stressed the significance of the Philippines' participation in the summit as it is the present country coordinator for ASEAN-EU Dialogue Relations until 2024.
He will attend the ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit on Dec. 14. He will also meet King Philippe of Belgium.
"Proceeding the commemorative summit is the 10th ASEAN-EU business summit hosted by the EU-ASEAN Business Council, a C-Suite luncheon on the occasion of the Business Summit will be hosted for ASEAN leaders and guests from the private sector," he said.
"It is up to me as a coordinator, the Philippines is the coordinator country between ASEAN and EU so I will deliver the closing remarks at the C-Suite luncheon and at the Business Summit itself," he added.
The President further said that these events will "provide opportunity to drum up economic interest once again and engagement for the Philippines in view of the presence of key business leaders in Europe at the event."
During his stay in Brussels, the Chief Executive said he will hold bilateral meetings with some of his counterparts in Europe such as Belgium, Estonia, Czech Republic, Spain, Denmark, Germany, Poland, Finland and the Netherlands.
He is expected to discuss various areas of cooperation, especially on post-pandemic recovery, energy, food security, maritime security, digital transformation, climate change action, and biodiversity management and conservation.
Marcos will also spend time with the Filipino community there.