Philippines to Host Multiple High-Level ASEAN Meetings Ahead of November Summit

In the weeks preceding the 49th ASEAN Summit, the Philippines has scheduled a comprehensive programme of high-level meetings across several domains. The Department of Trade and Industry will host the ASEAN Economic Ministers and related meetings from September 14-22, focusing on regional economic integration and the country’s chairmanship priorities. The Office of Civil Defence will run a disaster-resilience conference on September 15-16, and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity will organise a peace-education summit on September 22-23.

Women’s issues will be highlighted through a leaders’ summit (Sept 29-Oct 1), a women, peace and security conference (Oct 6-8) and a care-economy conference (Oct 28-30). Tourism ministers will meet in Manila on September 29, accompanied by an investment showcase, while the Department of Energy and the Department of the Interior and Local Government will lead meetings on energy and transnational crime in early October. The defence ministers’ meeting will close the series in Cebu on October 28-29, with all outcomes slated to inform the November ASEAN Leaders’ Summit.