On a Saturday evening in November, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stepped off a plane at Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport, arriving with his wife for the 49th Asean Summit and its related gatherings. The region's leaders have long met in this way, trading public commitments and private understandings, and Anwar's journey places Malaysia once again at the center of that old and patient conversation. Yet his path is not a straight one: he will slip home midway to welcome French President Macron, then return to the Philippine capital, a reminder that statecraft is often a matter of being
Anwar Lands in Manila for Asean Summit, Then Makes Brief Malaysia Dash to Receive Macron
Anwar is due back in Manila the same afternoon he receives Macron at home.
Mark
Why does a leader fly home mid-summit just to greet one visitor?
Mimi
Because the Macron visit is an official visit set for the morning of November 17, and the schedule puts Anwar back in Malaysia after Monday's dialogue-partner summits, then back in Manila that afternoon.
Mark
So Malaysia is effectively running two diplomatic tracks at once.
Mimi
Yes. Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan covers several meetings in Anwar's absence, including the East Asia Summit and the Asean Plus Three Summit.
Luke
Is there anything saying why the Macron visit landed on those dates?
Mimi
Not in the reporting. It gives the dates, not the reasoning.
Mark
The ambassador said the summit lets Malaysia shape regional policy. What does that mean in practice?
Mimi
He listed areas: political and security matters, economic cooperation, sociocultural issues. That is a stated aim, not a result.
Luke
Right, it's an official's expectation ahead of the event. Nothing here says what will actually be agreed.
Mark
And Myanmar?
Mimi
A consultation on the Five-Point Consensus took place Saturday, but the report gives no outcome.
Luke
Same for the bilateral meetings. They're described as expected, with no counterparts named.
El Pulso
- Anwar lands in Manila at 8pm on November 14, arriving at the start of a crowded regional diplomatic calendar.
- A tight itinerary forces a Monday round trip: dialogue-partner summits in Manila, a flight home for Macron, then a return for the US special summit.
- Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan takes over the delegation during Anwar's absence, covering the East Asia Summit and several other meetings.
- Every hand-off must hold, from the Monday departure to the Macron visit on the morning of November 17 and the afternoon return to Manila.
On a Saturday evening in November, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stepped off a plane at Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport, arriving with his wife for the 49th Asean Summit and its related gatherings. The region's leaders have long met in this way, trading public commitments and private understandings, and Anwar's journey places Malaysia once again at the center of that old and patient conversation. Yet his path is not a straight one: he will slip home midway to welcome French President Macron, then return to the Philippine capital, a reminder that statecraft is often a matter of being in two places at once.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, touched down at Terminal 2 of Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila at 8pm on Saturday, November 14. Waiting on the tarmac were Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan, Foreign Ministry Secretary-General Amran Mohamed Zin, and Malaysia's ambassador to the Philippines, with the Philippine Interior Secretary there to greet them.
The working days begin Sunday with the Asean Summit plenary and retreat sessions, followed by meetings with parliamentarians, business leaders and youth. On Monday Anwar meets dialogue partners including China, the United Nations, Australia and South Korea.
Then the schedule bends. Later Monday he flies home to receive French President Emmanuel Macron, who visits Malaysia on the morning of November 17. That afternoon he returns to Manila for the Asean-United States special summit and a dinner hosted by President Marcos Jr. Meanwhile Mohamad leads the delegation at several meetings, including the East Asia Summit, and Trade Minister Johari Abdul Ghani joins the team. Anwar's ambassador says the presence of the prime minister lets Malaysia shape regional policy and strengthen key ties. What remains to watch is whether the tight schedule holds.
The special aircraft carrying Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, touched down at Terminal 2 of Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila at 8pm on Saturday, November 14. They had come for the 49th Asean Summit and Related Summits, and for a schedule that will not keep Anwar in the Philippines the whole time.
On the tarmac to greet him were Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Foreign Ministry Secretary-General Tan Sri Amran Mohamed Zin, and Malaysia's Ambassador to the Philippines, Datuk Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino Anthony. The Philippines was represented by Juanito Victor "Jonvic" C. Remulla Jr., Secretary of the Interior and Local Government.
The working days begin on Sunday. Anwar is due at the 49th Asean Summit Plenary and Retreat sessions, followed by engagements with the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, the Asean Business Advisory Council and Asean youth representatives. On Monday, November 16, he will sit down in summits with dialogue partners including China, the United Nations, Australia and South Korea.
Then comes the detour. Later on Monday, Anwar is scheduled to fly home to receive French President Emmanuel Macron, who makes an official visit to Malaysia on the morning of November 17. That same afternoon Anwar returns to Manila for the Asean-United States Special Summit and an official dinner hosted by Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr.
While he is away, Mohamad will lead Malaysia's delegation at several meetings: the 29th Asean Plus Three Summit, the fourth Asia Zero Emission Community Leaders' Meeting, Asean summits with Japan and India, and the 21st East Asia Summit. Anwar is also expected to hold several bilateral meetings with fellow Asean leaders on the sidelines. The delegation includes Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani and senior officials from relevant ministries and agencies.
The leaders' meetings were preceded on Saturday by four ministerial-level meetings, among them an Extended Informal Consultation on implementing the Five-Point Consensus on Myanmar.
At an earlier briefing for Malaysian journalists, Ambassador Abdul Malik said Anwar's presence would let Malaysia help shape regional policy on political and security matters, economic cooperation and sociocultural issues. He called the summit a strategic platform for engaging directly with Asean leaders and dialogue partners on shared challenges while strengthening key bilateral ties.
What to watch is how the schedule holds: Anwar's Monday departure, the Macron visit on the morning of November 17, and his return to Manila for the US special summit that afternoon.
Citas Notables
The summit provides a strategic platform to engage directly with leaders of Asean member states and dialogue partners, fostering dialogue on pressing shared challenges while strengthening key bilateral ties.— Datuk Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino Anthony, Malaysian Ambassador to the Philippines
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