Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today participated in the 16th East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, in Manila, the Philippines. The Meeting reviewed EAS cooperation and discussed its future direction, as well as exchanged views on regional and international developments.
The EAS participating countries reaffirmed their commitment towards further strengthening the EAS as the Leaders-led forum for dialogue and cooperation on strategic, political, and economic issues of mutual interest and concern in the region, following the momentum of the 20th anniversary of the EAS last year. The Meeting noted the Progress Report on the Implementation of the EAS Plan of Action 2024-2028. The Meeting was attended by the Foreign Ministers or their representatives of EAS participating countries and Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn.
The 2/2026 Meeting of the Group of the EAS Ambassadors in Jakarta and EAS Group Retreat took place today in Bandung, Indonesia. The Meetings were chaired by H.E. Amb. Evangeline T. Ong Jimenez-Ducrocq, Permanent Representative of the Republic of the Philippines to ASEAN.
The 2/2026 EAS Group Meeting reviewed the progress of implementation of the EAS Plan of Action 2024-2028 and exchanged views on regional development cooperation and security policies. During the EAS Group Retreat, the EAS participating countries exchanged views on the strategic role of the EAS in promoting stability, strengthening cooperation, and fostering a peaceful, resilient, and prosperous region, in line with the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairship theme, “Navigating Our Future, Together”, including the preparation of outcome documents for the 21st EAS in November this year.
The East Asia Summit (EAS) Senior Officials’ Meeting took place today in Manila, Philippines, attended by EAS Senior Officials and the Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Political-Security Community. The Meeting reviewed the progress of EAS cooperation through the implementation of the EAS Plan of Action (2024-2028) and exchanged views on regional and international developments. The Meeting also discussed preparations for the 16th EAS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in July 2026 and the 21st East Asia Summit in November 2026.
The First Meeting of the Group of the East Asia Summit Ambassadors in Jakarta in 2026 took place today at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. This first EAS Group Meeting in 2026 under the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairship was chaired by H.E. Amb. Evangeline T. Ong Jimenez-Ducrocq, Permanent Representative of the Republic of the Philippines to ASEAN.
The EAS participating countries reviewed progress and expressed their commitment to further strengthening the EAS and enhancing practical cooperation to implement the EAS Plan of Action 2024-2028 and follow-up on EAS Leaders’ decisions, with a view to further strengthening the EAS. Ambassadors of the EAS participating countries or their representatives and representatives of the ASEAN Secretariat were in attendance.
The Third Meeting of the Group of the East Asia Summit (EAS) participating countries’ Ambassadors to ASEAN in Jakarta (3/2025 EAS Group Meeting) took place today at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. The Meeting reviewed the progress of implementation under the EAS Plan of Action 2024-2028 and discussed follow-up to outcomes of the 20th East Asia Summit which was successfully held on 27 October 2025 in Kuala Lumpur. The EAS participating countries also exchanged information on regional development cooperation and security policies. Ambassadors of the EAS participating countries or their representatives and the ASEAN Secretariat were in attendance.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced that the Philippines will assume the ASEAN Chairship in 2026, following Malaysia’s term.
In his arrival statement after attending the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, President Marcos vowed to continue ASEAN’s thrust toward unity, inclusivity, and sustainability as the region navigates future challenges together.
The President met with leaders of Cambodia, Canada, Thailand, Japan, the EU, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Nations Secretary-General, and discussed ways to further strengthen our partnerships and expand cooperation in strategic areas.
“I thank them for expressing their support for our ASEAN Chairship in 2026,” President Marcos added.
The President also said “the Philippine delegation and I are grateful to Malaysia, the Chair of ASEAN this year, and our generous host for the successful 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits and 2025 Chairship of ASEAN.”
“During the closing ceremony of the summits, Malaysia turned over the ASEAN Chairship to us. As the 2026 Chair of ASEAN, the Philippines looks forward to building on the gains of Malaysia’s inclusivity and sustainability theme and carry ASEAN forward as we, as is our theme, ‘Navigate our Future, Together,” President Marcos said.
President Marcos also shared that “during this past 47th summit, we welcomed the full accession of Timor-Leste as the 11th member of ASEAN. This is a historic step that reaffirms ASEAN’s commitment to unity and inclusivity.”
“We remain committed to pursuing initiatives that will support Timor-Leste’s capacity to assume its obligations as a full member of ASEAN, with the end goal of further building a people-centered ASEAN,” the President noted. | PND
Source: Official Portal of the Presidential Communications Office of the Philippines
Original publication date: 28 October 2025
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today attended the 20th East Asia Summit (EAS) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Summit was attended by Heads of State/Government and High Representatives of the EAS participating countries. The President of BRICS and the President of G20 also attended the Open Session, as guests of the Chair, and briefed the Meeting on their respective cooperation with the EAS to advance economic resilience and boost sustainable growth.
In the momentous 20th EAS anniversary, the Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the EAS as the premier Leaders-led forum for dialogue and cooperation on strategic, political, and economic issues of mutual interest and concern in the region. The Leaders also adopted the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on the Twentieth Anniversary of the EAS and thematic statements on relevant issues.
Senior Officials of the EAS participating countries gathered for the second time this year for the East Asia Summit Preparatory Senior Officials’ Meeting (EAS Prep-SOM) in Port Dickson, Malaysia. The Meeting discussed preparations for the 20th East Asia Summit, to be held in October 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Political-Security Community led the ASEAN Secretariat delegation. Timor-Leste attended as Observer.
The 15th East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was held in Kuala Lumpur today. The Meeting reviewed ongoing EAS cooperation and discussed its future direction, while also exchanged views on regional and international developments. The EAS participating countries reaffirmed their commitment towards further strengthening the EAS as the Leaders-led forum for dialogue and cooperation on strategic, political, and economic issues of mutual interest and concern in the region, particularly in view of the 20th anniversary of the EAS this year. The Meeting was attended by the Foreign Ministers or their representatives from EAS participating countries and the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn. Timor-Leste attended as Observer.
The Second Meeting of the Group of the East Asia Summit (EAS) Participating Countries’ Ambassadors to ASEAN in Jakarta (2/2025 EAS Group Meeting) convened today at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. The Meeting reviewed progress of the implementation of the EAS Plan of Action 2024–2028, discussed preparations for the upcoming 15th EAS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in July and outcome documents of 20th East Asia Summit in October 2025, and exchanged information on regional development cooperation initiatives. Ambassadors or representatives from EAS Participating Countries and the ASEAN Secretariat were in attendance. Timor-Leste attended as Observer.