MANILA, Nov 14 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim arrived here tonight for the 49th Asean Summit and Related Summits, with a packed diplomatic schedule that will see him return briefly to Malaysia to receive French President Emmanuel Macron before flying back to Manila.
The special aircraft carrying Anwar and his wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, landed at Terminal 2 of Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 8pm.
He was received by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Foreign Ministry Secretary-General Tan Sri Amran Mohamed Zin, and Malaysian Ambassador to the Philippines Datuk Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino Anthony.
Also present was the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) of the Philippines, Sec. Juanito Victor “Jonvic” C. Remulla Jr.
Tomorrow, Anwar is scheduled to attend the 49th Asean Summit Plenary and Retreat sessions, followed by engagements with the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), Asean Business Advisory Council (Asean-BAC) and Asean youth representatives.
On Monday (November 16), he will attend Asean summits with key dialogue partners, including China, the United Nations, Australia and South Korea.
Anwar is scheduled to return to Malaysia later that day to receive French President Emmanuel Macron, who will make an official visit on the morning of November 17, before flying back to Manila that afternoon.
Upon his return, he will attend the Asean-United States Special Summit and an official dinner hosted by Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr.
Mohamad will lead Malaysia’s delegation to the 29th Asean Plus Three Summit, the fourth Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Leaders’ Meeting, Asean summits with Japan and India, and the 21st East Asia Summit (EAS) during Anwar’s absence.
Anwar is also expected to hold several bilateral meetings with his Asean counterparts on the sidelines of the summits.
Malaysia’s delegation includes Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani and senior officials from relevant ministries and agencies.
The annual summit meetings were preceded by four ministerial-level meetings today, including an Extended Informal Consultation on the Implementation of the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) on Myanmar.
At an earlier media briefing for Malaysian journalists, Abdul Malik said Anwar’s participation would enable Malaysia to help shape regional policies on political and security matters, economic cooperation and sociocultural issues.
“This summit provides a strategic platform to engage directly with leaders of Asean member states and dialogue partners, fostering dialogue on pressing shared challenges while strengthening key bilateral ties,” he said. — Bernama
