ASEAN And Dialogue Partner Leaders Converge On Manila Ahead Of 49th ASEAN Summit

MANILA, Nov 14  – Heads of state, government leaders, and senior representatives from ASEAN and its dialogue partners began arriving in Manila on Saturday, November 14, 2026, ahead of the 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, where the South China Sea Code of Conduct and the ongoing crisis in Myanmar headline the regional agenda.

Hosted by the Philippines as 2026 ASEAN Chair from November 15 to 17, the high-level meetings bring together delegations from the 11-member Southeast Asian bloc alongside dialogue and sectoral dialogue partners.

During the summit, ASEAN and China aim to conclude negotiations on a South China Sea Code of Conduct (COC) by year-end, while ASEAN leaders will review the implementation of the bloc’s Five-Point Consensus on Myanmar.

Southeast Asian Leaders Arrive in Manila

Among the ASEAN heads of state and government arriving in the Philippine capital on Saturday were:

• Malaysia: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim
• Brunei: Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah
• Indonesia: President Prabowo Subianto
• Laos: Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith
• Timor-Leste: Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão
• Vietnam: Prime Minister Le Minh Hung
• Thailand: Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul

ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn also participated in the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on Saturday ahead of the leaders’ sessions.

Dialogue Partners, Guests, and Bilateral Engagements

Several external partner leaders and international heads also touched down in Manila ahead of Sunday’s formal opening:

• Canada & Australia: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived on Saturday and held bilateral talks with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., while Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese arrived ahead of the 6th ASEAN–Australia Summit and Tuesday’s 21st East Asia Summit.
• United Nations: UN Secretary-General António Guterres arrived on Saturday evening to attend Sunday’s opening ceremony and Monday’s 16th ASEAN–United Nations Summit.
• Brazil: Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who arrived on Friday for a state visit, will attend Sunday’s plenary session as a Guest of the Chair as Brazil—currently a sectoral dialogue partner—pursues full ASEAN dialogue partner status.

Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro further confirmed that United States President Donald Trump, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will join fellow dialogue partner leaders in Manila for the summit series.

“We are very grateful for this strong show of support for the Philippines’ Chairship,” Lazaro told Bernama in a written response.

Summit Dates, Key Agenda Items, and Confirmed Delegations

Key summit logistics, policy priorities, and participating leaders include:

• Host & Dates: Manila, Philippines (2026 ASEAN Chair), running from November 15 to 17, 2026.
• Primary Policy Agenda: Concluding South China Sea Code of Conduct (COC) negotiations with China by year-end and reviewing Myanmar’s Five-Point Consensus implementation.
• Arriving ASEAN Leaders (Nov 14): Malaysia (Anwar Ibrahim), Brunei (Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah), Indonesia (Prabowo Subianto), Laos (Saleumxay Kommasith), Timor-Leste (Xanana Gusmão), Vietnam (Le Minh Hung), and Thailand (Anutin Charnvirakul).
• External Partners & Guests: Canada (Mark Carney), Australia (Anthony Albanese), United Nations (António Guterres), Brazil (Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva as Guest of the Chair), alongside confirmed participation from US President Donald Trump, Indian PM Narendra Modi, and Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi.

–NMT