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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Marcos to sign admission of Timor-Leste as 11th member of ASEAN in Kuala Lumpur summits

Marcos to sign admission of Timor-Leste as 11th member of ASEAN in Kuala Lumpur summits

Published Oct 24, 2025 12:42 pm  |  Updated Oct 24, 2025 02:37 pm
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. speaks during a press conference at the Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur following the 46th ASEAN Summit in Malaysia, May 27, 2025. (Mark Balmores)
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. speaks during a press conference at the Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur following the 46th ASEAN Summit in Malaysia, May 27, 2025. (Mark Balmores)
President Marcos is expected to sign the admission of Timor-Leste into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) during his participation in the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Marcos will be attending the ASEAN Summit and Related Summits from October 26 to 28.
During the summit, he is expected to attend 14 leaders-level meetings and three signing ceremonies, including the signing the admission of Timor-Leste into the regional bloc.
"The President will be signing the Declaration on the Admission of Timor-Leste into ASEAN as its 11th member," Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Spokesperson Angelica Escalona said in a Palace briefing on Friday, Oct. 23.
The President will also witness the signing of the Second Protocol to amend the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) and the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area 3.0 upgrade.
"In all these engagements, the President will advance Philippine interests in ASEAN by strengthening security and stability, enhancing economic cooperation, and broadening engagement with dialogue partners," Escalona said.
Marcos will also engage in discussions of various global issues, including the situation in Myanmar, the economic uncertainty, and other geopolitical and geoeconomic challenges that affect the region.
According to Escalona, 80 outcome documents are expected to be issued, adopted, or noted during the summits.
Marcos will likely have a number of bilateral meetings with his counterparts at the sidelines of the summits, the DFA official added.
While his possible bilateral meetings with other countries are "still for confirmation," Escalona disclosed that the President will be attending the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) meeting to discuss the leader's direction in enhancing RCEP implementation and exchanging views on regional and international issues.
Escalona also said that they are still waiting for Malaysia to confirm whether US President Donald Trump will attend the summit, adding that she cannot confirm yet if Marcos will be able to meet Trump if the latter would indeed show up at the summit.
"I cannot predict what will be discussed, but generally our position is that we want to constructively engage the US," Escalona said when asked if Marcos would raise the tariffs in case he meets with Trump.
During the last day of the summit, the ASEAN chairship will be turned over from Malaysia to the Philippines.
"Building upon the success of previous ASEAN chairs, the Philippines will take this opportunity to introduce how we will stir the future of the region and beyond by galvanizing community-building efforts during our chairship," Escalona said.
The summit is a mechanism for leaders to provide policy direction for ASEAN, build consensus on matters of mutual interests and exchange views on key regional and international issues.
Marcos will be joined by leaders of other ASEAN member-states, ASEAN dialogue partners, and international organizations at the invitation of Malaysian Prime Minister Datu Seri Anwar Ibrahim who serves as this year’s ASEAN chair.

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