Participants of a high-level meeting for ASEAN foreign ministers pose for a group photo in Cebu, the Philippines, May 7, 2026. (ASEAN 2026/Handout via Xinhua)
Manila, May. 8 (Xinhua) -- The 48th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit kicked off in Cebu province of the Philippines on Friday, with energy security, food security, and the safety of ASEAN nationals worldwide as its main priorities.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos of the Philippines, the chair of ASEAN 2026, said the summit convenes at a time of considerable challenge, adding the increasingly volatile situation in the Middle East has impacted ASEAN nations, and profound uncertainties have threatened lifestyles, livelihoods and lives.
The summit and related meetings, held from Thursday to Friday, take place amid rising energy costs and price hikes across ASEAN member states, widespread disruptions across multiple sectors, and mounting security risks for ASEAN nationals in the Middle East.
Leaders from ASEAN member states will also discuss topics including supporting Timor-Leste's full integration into the regional bloc and the latest developments in Myanmar.
Established in 1967, the grouping includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Timor-Leste, which joined the bloc at the 47th ASEAN Summit in Malaysia last October. ■
Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos speaks at the opening ceremony of the 48th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and related meetings in Cebu province of the Philippines, May 8, 2026. The summit kicked off here on Friday, with energy security, food security, and the safety of ASEAN nationals worldwide as its main priorities. (Xinhua/Guo Yige)
Guests pose for a group photo at the opening ceremony of the 48th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and related meetings in Cebu province of the Philippines, May 8, 2026. The summit kicked off here on Friday, with energy security, food security, and the safety of ASEAN nationals worldwide as its main priorities. (Xinhua/Guo Yige)
Journalists work at the press center of the 48th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Cebu province of the Philippines, May 7, 2026. The summit kicked off here on Friday, with energy security, food security, and the safety of ASEAN nationals worldwide as its main priorities. (Xinhua/Guo Yige)
Journalists inquire at the press center of the 48th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Cebu province of the Philippines, May 7, 2026. The summit kicked off here on Friday, with energy security, food security, and the safety of ASEAN nationals worldwide as its main priorities. (Xinhua/Guo Yige)
A man walks past an art installation marking the 48th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Cebu province of the Philippines, May 8, 2026. The summit kicked off here on Friday, with energy security, food security, and the safety of ASEAN nationals worldwide as its main priorities. (Xinhua/Zhao Chenjie)
This photo taken on May 8, 2026 shows the venue of the 48th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Cebu province of the Philippines. The summit kicked off here on Friday, with energy security, food security, and the safety of ASEAN nationals worldwide as its main priorities. (Xinhua/Guo Yige)
This photo taken on May 8, 2026 shows a plenary session after the opening ceremony of the 48th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Cebu province of the Philippines. The summit kicked off here on Friday, with energy security, food security, and the safety of ASEAN nationals worldwide as its main priorities. (48th ASEAN Summit/Handout via Xinhua)
