UN chief to attend 49th ASEAN summit in Philippines

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will arrive in Manila, the Philippines, on Saturday to attend the 49th summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said Friday.

The summit, hosted by the Philippines under the theme “Navigating Our Future Together,” will bring together regional leaders to discuss shared challenges and strengthen cooperation.

During his visit, Guterres is scheduled to meet with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and hold bilateral meetings with several heads of delegations, Haq told the reporters.

"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 organizations," he added.

Haq said Guterres is expected to underscore ASEAN's importance and the region's considerable influence and capacity to address major challenges both regionally and globally.

He will also highlight cooperation between the United Nations and ASEAN in areas including conflict prevention, climate action, sustainable development, peacekeeping and human rights.

The UN chief's engagements on Tuesday will include a meeting with the UN country team in the Philippines, a dialogue with young people and attendance at the closing ceremony of the ASEAN summit, Haq said.

Guterres is expected to return to New York on Nov. 19, he added.