UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres To Join 49th ASEAN Summit In Manila

WASHINGTON, Nov 14 – United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will arrive in Manila on Saturday, November 14, 2026, to participate in the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits, according to Anadolu Ajansi citing UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq.

Hosted by the Philippines as 2026 ASEAN Chair under the theme “Navigating Our Future Together,” the regional gathering will convene Southeast Asian leaders and dialogue partners to address shared challenges and deepen multilateral cooperation.

During his stay in the Philippine capital, Guterres is scheduled to meet with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. alongside bilateral engagements with several heads of delegations.

“On Sunday, he will attend the opening ceremony of the summit, and on Monday, he will take part in the 16th ASEAN United Nations Summit, which marks the 15th anniversary of the comprehensive partnership between the two organisations,” Haq told reporters on Friday.

Key Summit Priorities and Itinerary

According to Haq, the UN chief is expected to underscore ASEAN’s strategic importance, regional influence, and capacity to tackle pressing global and regional crises. Guterres will also highlight ongoing UN-ASEAN collaboration across five core pillars:

• Conflict prevention
• Climate action
• Sustainable development
• Peacekeeping
• Human rights

On Tuesday, November 17, Guterres’s itinerary includes a meeting with the UN country team in the Philippines, an interactive dialogue with youth representatives, and attendance at the ASEAN Summit’s closing ceremony before returning to New York on Thursday, November 19.

Diplomatic Schedule, Summit Theme, and UN-ASEAN Partnership

Key diplomatic milestones, themes, and bilateral engagements include:

• Arrival & Return Dates: Arriving in Manila on Saturday, Nov 14, 2026; returning to New York on Thursday, Nov 19, 2026.
• Host & Theme: Hosted by the Philippines under the theme “Navigating Our Future Together”.
• Core Summit Engagements: Opening ceremony (Sunday, Nov 15), 16th ASEAN-UN Summit marking the 15th anniversary of the UN-ASEAN Comprehensive Partnership (Monday, Nov 16), youth dialogue, UN country team meeting, and closing ceremony (Tuesday, Nov 17).
• Bilateral & Priority Areas: Bilateral meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and delegation heads; focus on conflict prevention, climate action, sustainable development, peacekeeping, and human rights.

–NMT