President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Sunday he would push Philippine priorities before the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the European Union in relation to post-pandemic recovery, trade, maritime cooperation and climate action.

Marcos issued the statement at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City before boarding his flight for the EU-ASEAN commemorative summit in Brussels, Belgium.

The President is scheduled to arrive in Brussels early morning today, 12 December, for the conference marking 45 years of ties between the EU and the ASEAN.

"This will be the first meeting between ASEAN and EU member states leaders at the EU headquarters and I am pleased to highlight the Philippines' role as country coordinator for ASEAN in its dialogue relations with the EU," Marcos said.

"I look forward to a productive and meaningful summit that recognizes ASEAN and EU's four and a half decades of long-standing relations, and this we will continue to do and we're very proud… to represent all of ASEAN," he added.

The President will also deliver the closing remarks at the C-Suite luncheon and the Business Summit, where world leaders and business leaders will gather.

The President, accompanied by First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, departed Manila at around 8 p.m. Sunday.

The President will first meet the Filipino community at the Event Lounge in Schaerbeek, situated near the heart of Brussels.

In the international summit, Marcos will discuss how the Philippines is coping with the pandemic while sustaining economic growth amid global headwinds.

Marcos would also meet King Philippe of Belgium and discuss enhancing Manila-Brussels cooperation in agriculture and renewable energy.

Moreover, he would hold bilateral meetings with leaders from the Czech Republic, Belgium, Estonia, Spain, Denmark, Germany, Poland, Finland, The Netherlands and the EU.