Philippine President Bongbong Marcos holds talks with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, October 2025. (Presidential Communications Office via Wikimedia)
The Philippines is preparing to host the 48th ASEAN Summit and related meetings in Cebu on May 8 to discuss the ongoing trends and its role as the regional bloc.
“Our focus will be on the most pressing imperatives of our time—fortifying energy security, stabilizing food supplies and, above all, guaranteeing the absolute safety and welfare of ASEAN nationals, no matter where they are in the world,” Philippine Foreign Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro told a forum in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Lazaro, who also serves as ASEAN chair’s special envoy to Myanmar, noted recent developments including the release of political prisoners, advocating for the shift of jail time of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to house arrest.
Still, she stressed that Myanmar has not fully complied with the Five‑Point Consensus (5PC)—ASEAN’s 2021 peace roadmap calling for an end to violence, dialogue among all parties, and humanitarian assistance—which is a framework she insists the bloc will use when tackling the Myanmar question.
Previously, ASEAN issued a Chair’s Statement welcoming Myanmar’s plan to free more than 4,000 prisoners, including former president U Win Myint. The bloc encouraged further releases, “including Aung San Suu Kyi, in the spirit of genuine reconciliation and peace.” The statement also repeated calls for an immediate halt to violence, protection of civilians, and safe delivery of humanitarian aid.
Simultaneously, ASEAN and China continue monthly talks on a Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea, with hopes of finalising a substantial pact by the end of 2026. Lazaro said that there is “some movement” in negotiations, reflecting both challenges and progress.
The foreign secretary said the focus reflects urgent challenges, especially global energy supply linked to the conflict in the Middle East.
The Philippines, who chairs the association this year, will be hosting two ASEAN gatherings, including the Cebu summit and culminating with the 49th ASEAN Summit in Pasay in November.
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