From trade to security: What’s on the agenda of the 49th Asean Summit?

Resumen detallado

The Philippines will host the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit and Related Summits on Nov. 15 to 17, bringing regional leaders together to discuss key political, security and economic issues.

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines will host the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit and Related Summits on Nov. 15 to 17, bringing regional leaders together to discuss key political, security and economic issues.

The second Asean summit hosted by the country this year, the event follows the 48th Asean Summit held in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, in May. It will also mark the culmination of the Philippines’ chairship of the regional bloc.

The main events, to be held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City, will bring together leaders from the 11 Asean member states and representatives of nine dialogue partner countries to discuss regional priorities and pressing issues.

Meanwhile, ministerial meetings will be held at Conrad Manila, while the World Trade Center will serve as the International Media Center for at least 5,000 media delegates.

The Philippines was not originally scheduled to chair Asean this year. It took over the role after Myanmar formally relinquished its turn amid its ongoing internal crisis and regional diplomatic pressure.

On Aug. 8, 1967, five foreign ministers gathered at the main hall of the Department of Foreign Affairs building in Bangkok, Thailand, to sign the Declaration of Asean, also known as the Bangkok Declaration. They were Indonesia’s Adam Malik, the Philippines’ Narciso R. Ramos, Malaysia’s Tun Abdul Razak, Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam and Thailand’s Thanat Khoman.

The five men would later be recognized as the Founding Fathers of Asean, now considered one of the most successful intergovernmental organizations in the developing world.

The regional bloc held its first-ever Asean Summit in Bali, Indonesia, in 1976, establishing the tradition of holding two meetings in a year, with hosting duties rotating among member states.

During the 48th Asean Summit in Cebu in May, leaders adopted the Cebu Protocol to Amend the Charter of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, formally integrating Timor-Leste as…

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