President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday formally accepted the Philippines’ role as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for 2026.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim turned over the ASEAN chairship gavel to Marcos during the closing ceremony of the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits at Kuala Lumpur Convention Center in Kuala Lumpur.

Marcos said the Philippines will push for inclusive initiatives to strengthen and empower the region’s security, economy, and people amid an increasingly evolving regional landscape.

“ASEAN is our ship, and 2026 will be the year when we set full sail together toward our shared horizon,” he said.

“Guided by the theme ‘Navigating Our Future, Together,’ the Philippines will continue to fortify our peace and security anchors, strengthen our prosperity corridors, and advance people empowerment.”

These main priorities, Marcos said, will serve as Manila’s compass in driving ASEAN “toward a future where peace, prosperity, and people remain at the heart of all that we say and all that we do.”

“This reflects not just our aspirations, but our resolve to ensure that ASEAN’s integration agenda translates into real opportunities for businesses to grow, for communities to thrive, and for progress to be inclusive, sustainable, and shared by all,” he added.

The Philippines, as 2026 ASEAN chair, he said, will implement the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 in its first year and help advance Timor-Leste’s further integration into the regional circle.

Rules-based ASEAN architecture

With Manila at its helm, Marcos said ASEAN will continue to promote dialogue, adherence to international law, and enhanced cooperation on traditional and non-traditional security issues.

“For though the tides of change may be unpredictable, our compass must remain constant, anchored in cooperation,” he said.

“It must be oriented toward maintaining a stable and secure region, built upon a shared vision of an open, inclusive, transparent, and rules-based ASEAN regional architecture.”

Marcos said ASEAN Centrality will be at the core of its initiatives in the coming year.

“We, as ASEAN, will stand firm as the institution that serves as the driving force behind the region’s evolving landscape,” he said.

“Our goal is not to diverge from past chairships, but to build upon the collective work of our predecessors.”

Marcos, meanwhile, commended Malaysia’s pragmatic chairship over the past year, saying it steered the bloc with “clarity and conviction.”

He said Manila will champion continuity and build upon the gains achieved by Malaysia and previous summits.

The three-day 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings brought together world leaders from the 11 ASEAN member states and their dialogue partners, including US President Donald Trump, Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae, Korean President Lee Jae Myung, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, to name a few.

Among the milestones reached during the summit was the official admission of Timor-Leste as ASEAN’s 11th member and the signing of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA) 3.0 Upgrade Protocol. (PNA)