- 2026-01-16
The Philippines officially assumes the rotating chairmanship of ASEAN.
ASEAN Headline News: The Philippines has officially taken over as the rotating chair of ASEAN and is preparing to host approximately 650 summits and various regional meetings throughout 2026.
According to the Philippine "World Daily", Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Philippine Foreign Ministry, Inepieryal, stated that as the chair country, the Philippines will ensure that ASEAN continues to maintain peace and stability, deepen regional integration, and promote social inclusiveness.
He said at a press briefing held in Pasay City on January 8th: "In our joint journey towards the future, the Philippines will continue to strive for stable leadership, principled interaction, and a framework that can strengthen the ASEAN chairmanship term for many years to come."
The 48th ASEAN Leaders' Summit and related summits will be held in Cebu City from May 8th to 9th, followed by the 49th ASEAN Summit and related summits in Pasay City, at the renovated Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), from November 10th to 12th.
Before the official summits, Cebu City will host an informal meeting of ASEAN Foreign Ministers from January 25th to 29th, and the ASEAN Tourism Forum from January 26th to 30th.
The Philippines will also lead the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia on July 24th at the PICC in Manila.
This treaty is a legally binding document that lays the foundation for peaceful coexistence, mutual trust, and stability among regional countries. So far, at least 55 signatories, including the United States, China, Japan, France, Canada, the European Union, India, and Russia, have joined the treaty.
At the same press conference, the Deputy Minister of Communications of the Philippine Presidential Office, Castillo, said that hosting the 2026 ASEAN events by the Philippines will demonstrate the Philippines' commitment to multilateralism and promoting unity in diversity.
She said: "This chairmanship term is not only a diplomatic honor but also an important opportunity for us to lead the region towards peace, prosperity, and empowerment of the people."
The ASEAN National Organization Committee Chair, Lira-Vega, pointed out that Manila will "responsibly" utilize the budget while advancing the three core priorities of the region: peace and security, prosperity, and empowerment of the people.