LIVE UPDATES: Cebu hosts ASEAN foreign ministers, tourism forum

Tourism chiefs from Southeast Asia converge for the ASEAN Tourism Ministers’ Meeting. Philippine Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco presides over the meeting at NUSTAR Resort in Cebu City on Thursday, January 29.

In her opening statement, Philippine Foreign Secretary Tess Lazaro made references to tensions in the South China Sea, the situation in Myanmar, and the bordern dispute between Thailand and Cambodia. (“Across our region, we continue to see tensions at sea, protracted internal conflicts, and unresolved border and humanitarian concerns.”) 

AMM chair Secretary Lazaro opens the Foreign Ministers’ Retreat by highlighting security challenges the bloc faces.

She says: “As we begin today’s discussions, I wish to preface this by zeroing in on the core reality. Security challenges facing ASEAN have not only grown, but have also evolved and diversified. The global geopolitical security environment has not only become more challenging, but it’s also become more complex and interconnected.” 

At the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat, chair Philippine Foreign Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro says “tensions at sea, protracted internal conflicts, and unresolved border and humanitarian concerns” alongside “unilateral actions that carry across regional implications, continue to affect regional stability and erode multilateral institutions and the rules-based international order” mean it’s more important for ASEAN member state to uphold the “time-honored principles of restraint, dialogue, and adherence to international law in seeking to preserve peace and stability to our peoples.”

The January 29 meeting among foreign ministers is the first major ASEAN event in the Philippines’ chairmanship of the bloc. On January 28, Lazaro led an informal meeting to talk about the situation in junta-ruled Myanmar.

As the Philippines takes over chairmanship of the 11-member bloc, here’s what you need to know about the ASEAN member states.

Read more.

Tourism ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations link hands “the ASEAN way” after the official opening of the ASEAN Tourism Forum in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, on Wednesday, January 28.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro met with Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan on the sidelines of the AMM Retreat.

The two “discussed our shared outlook for peace and security in the region in light of our back-to-back chairmanships.” After Manila, Singapore will be the next chair of the bloc. 

The two also signed a memorandum of understanding on bilateral consultations. 

In a post on X, Philippine Foreign Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro said she met with Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Retreat.

“We exchanged candid views on the situation in Myanmar and the Cambodia-Thailand border,” said Lazaro. They also spoke about transnational organized crimes and online scams, she noted.  

Lazaro also met with Vietnamese Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung. She said they “agreed to enhance…cooperation on maritime concerns, defense, and security, and in addressing emerging threats.” Lazaro also thanked him for Vietnam’s donation of 2,000 MT of rice. 

The Philippine foreign secretary also met with Erywan Yusof, the second minister of foreign affairs for Brunei. 

Philippine Foreign Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro, concurrently the chair’s special envoy to Myanmar, held an “extended information consultation” with fellow ministers from ASEAN.

Lazaro, in a post on X, said they “shared views” on the implementation of the 5PC or five-point consensus — the ASEAN-laid plan to avoid escalation and introduce stability in Myanmar — and “discussed ways forward.” 

In a chance interview with reporters, ASEAN spokesperson Dax Imperial said: “Since this was really candid discussions, it’s really more of the ministers discussing the previous…what the special envoy did. From there, they discussed their views on what they think should be done on the situation [in] Myanmar, and from there, they focused on how to move forward.” 

The ASEAN Tourism Forum officially opens today, January 28, at the Mactan Shrine in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.

The forum is a key event in the Philippines’ ASEAN chairmanship, convening tourism ministers and industry leaders to shape the region’s tourism trajectory, integration, and long-term growth.

ATF LAUNCH. The ASEAN Tourism Forum kicks off at the Mactan Shrine in Lapu-Lapu City today, January 28. Bea Cupin/Rappler