President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has left for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Sunday to participate in the 45^th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summits and the 2^nd ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit and the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit.

Marcos is accompanied by First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos. He is also joined by Trade Secretary Cristina Aldeguer-Roque, Mindanao Development Authority Secretary Leo Tereso Magno, Presidential Communications Office Secretary Jay Ruiz and Undersecretary Claire Castro.

Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary and incoming chief Tess Lazaro went ahead of Marcos in Malaysia.

In his remarks, Marcos said the ASEAN will discuss its “proper response” towards the new tariff schedule imposed by the United States.

“We have already made informal consultations with our fellow member states and their representatives with the Chairman, [Prime Minister] Anwar Ibrahim, on this subject as it is something that we have to discuss and it is something that we have to respond to,” he said.

Marcos noted that the regional body must find a way to find concesus “amongst disparate situations that the different member states are operating under.”

The President will also continue promoting an open, inclusive, and ruled-based international order, and for peaceful resolution of disputes in the summit.

Marcos said the Philippines is also committed to the development of a common regional frameword for ethical and responsible artificial intelligence (AI) that is aligned with ASEAN values.

“Through these efforts, we aim to build a future-ready ASEAN that is not only competitive, but also people-centered and sustainable,” he stressed.

Heads of States who will join the ASEAN Summit will convene from 26 to 27 May 2025.