Manila, Philippines — The Philippines welcomes the Leaders from 11 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Member States, Dialogue Partners and Guests of the Chair in Manila from November 15 to 17, 2026, for the 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits. The Meetings this week cap the country's year as ASEAN Chair.
Guided by the theme “Navigating Our Future, Together,” the ASEAN Leaders and their partner states further strengthen and advance regional cooperation across three strategic priorities — peace and security anchors, prosperity corridors, and people empowerment. Building on the many meetings and events held throughout 2026, Leaders will discuss how ASEAN can work together on shared concerns, especially on key issues on energy security, food security, and digital transformation.
Among the Summit highlights is the signing of the landmark ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), the world's first region-wide digital economy agreement. Once implemented, the DEFA is expected to make it easier and safer for businesses across ASEAN to transact, make payments, and access digital services across borders. The Agreement also calls for measures to protect online shoppers from deceptive practices and give them ways to seek redress. For a small Philippine business shipping goods abroad, wider acceptance of electronic trade documents could mean less paperwork. Regional cooperation on digital skills could also help workers learn to use new tools on the job.
The ASEAN Summit transcends regions as it provides an avenue in advancing global cooperation with its Dialogue Partners, such as Australia, People's Republic of China, the European Union, Japan, Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, and the United States. Discussions will focus on expanding trade and investment, strengthening defense and security cooperation, and accelerating technology integration.
Beyond discussions on policies and mechanisms, the ASEAN Chairship provides the Philippines with a unique opportunity to promote its culture to visiting leaders and international delegates, while simultaneously boosting the economy through job creation. To maximize this exposure, the ASEAN National Organizing Council (ASEAN-NOC) is showcasing local MSME products by presenting them as official tokens to the delegations. The Philippines' rich cultural identity and entrepreneurial talent are front and center throughout the entire summit.
Even as it hands over the ASEAN Chairship to Singapore, the Philippines expects its initiatives to create lasting impact across the political-security, economic, and socio-cultural pillars towards a resilient, innovative, dynamic and people-centered region benefitting more than 700 million ASEAN citizens.
