MANILA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is scheduled to arrive in Manila on Saturday (Nov 14) to lead the Malaysian delegation to the 49th Asean Summit and Related Summits from Nov 15 to 17.
Malaysian Ambassador to the Philippines Datuk Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino Anthony said Anwar's participation at the highest level reflects Malaysia's commitment to continuing its active role in shaping Asean's direction across political and security, economic and socio-cultural aspects.
"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 told Malaysian media at a press conference here on Friday (Nov 13).
Abdul Malik said Anwar will be accompanied by his wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, and Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.
On Sunday (Nov 15), the Prime Minister is scheduled to attend the plenary and retreat sessions of the 49th Asean Summit, as well as Asean leaders' engagement sessions with the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), the Asean Business Advisory Council (Asean-BAC) and Asean youth.
On Monday (Nov 16), he is scheduled to attend Asean summits with China, the United Nations (UN), Australia and South Korea before returning to Malaysia in the afternoon.
Abdul Malik said the return is to allow Anwar to receive French President Emmanuel Macron for an official visit on the morning of Nov 17.
"The Prime Minister is scheduled to return to Manila on the afternoon of Nov 17, 2026, to attend the Asean-United States Special Summit and a dinner hosted by the President of the Republic of the Philippines," he said.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan will lead the Malaysian delegation to several meetings and summits on Nov 17 in the Prime Minister's absence, including the 29th Asean Plus Three Summit, the 4th Asia Zero Emission Community Leaders' Meeting, Asean summits with Japan and India, and the 21st East Asia Summit.
Abdul Malik said Anwar is also scheduled to hold several bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Asean member states on the sidelines of the summit.
He said the summit will be preceded by four ministerial-level meetings on Nov 14, including the Extended Informal Consultation on the Implementation of the Five-Point Consensus.
The other three meetings are the Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting, the 32nd Asean Political-Security Community Council Meeting and the 39th Asean Coordinating Council Meeting. — Bernama
