Philippines Foreign Minister Visits ASEAN, Hands Over Chairship Sculpture
Summary
H.E. Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Philippines, visited ASEAN Headquarters in Jakarta on April 22, 2026, for a bilateral meeting with ASEAN Secretary-General H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn. The visit included a ceremonial handover of the Philippines' commemorative Chairship sculpture, titled 'Vitality 2026,' which will be permanently housed in the ASEAN Gallery. The principals also discussed the Philippines' priorities during its 2026 ASEAN Chairship amid global turmoil and the energy crisis.
“Secretary-General Dr. Kao and Secretary Lazaro held a bilateral meeting to discuss strategic priorities and strengthen cooperation between the Philippines and the ASEAN Secretariat.”
About this source
GovPing monitors ASEAN News for new government & legislation regulatory changes. Every update since tracking began is archived, classified, and available as free RSS or email alerts — 3 changes logged to date.
What changed
This document reports the ceremonial visit and bilateral meeting between the Philippines' Secretary of Foreign Affairs and the ASEAN Secretary-General. The primary activity was the handover of a commemorative sculpture celebrating the Philippines' 2026 ASEAN Chairship, along with discussions on strategic priorities including regional unity, the energy crisis, and ASEAN Community building.
This event carries no regulatory, compliance, or enforcement implications. It is a diplomatic ceremony documenting the Philippines' chairship activities and does not impose any obligations on member states, businesses, or individuals. There are no deadlines, penalties, or required actions for compliance officers.
Archived snapshot
Apr 23, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Home ❭ In The News, News, SecGen’s Activities ❭ The Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Philippines visits ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat
The Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Philippines visits ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat
JAKARTA, 22 April 2026 – H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN, today received H.E. Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Philippines, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat for a high-level bilateral meeting and the ceremonial handover of the Philippines’ commemorative Chairship sculpture.
Upon her arrival, Secretary Lazaro was received by Secretary-General Dr. Kao, the Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPRs), and the Deputy Secretaries-General of ASEAN. Following a commemorative photo session at the ASEAN Emblem, the principals proceeded to the ASEAN Gallery for a significant cultural ceremony.
The highlight of the visit was the “Handover of the Chairship Sculpture,” a gift presented by the Republic of the Philippines to the ASEAN Secretariat. During the handover, Secretary Lazaro delivered her remarks on the inspiration and symbolism of the artwork, which serves as a tribute to the Philippines’ Chairship and leadership of ASEAN in 2026 and its enduring commitment to regional unity. Secretary-General Dr. Kao expressed his appreciation for the gift, which will be permanently housed in the ASEAN Gallery.
Following the ceremony, Secretary-General Dr. Kao and Secretary Lazaro held a bilateral meeting to discuss strategic priorities and strengthen cooperation between the Philippines and the ASEAN Secretariat. The Meeting discussed the Philippines’ priorities during its Chairship in 2026 amidst the global turmoil and energy crisis, as well as a range of key ASEAN issues in advancing the ASEAN Community building agenda.
The visit concluded with a photo session at the Philippines Chairship Emblem in the lobby, where Secretary Lazaro also met with staff members from the Philippines currently serving at the ASEAN Secretariat.
Download SG’s full remarks here.
Share This On
Other Articles
Secretary-General of ASEAN Hosts Dinner for the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Indonesia to ASEAN Secretary-General of ASEAN Attends Reception in Honor of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Philippines
Related changes
Get daily alerts for ASEAN News
Daily digest delivered to your inbox.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime.
About this page
Every important government, regulator, and court update from around the world. One place. Real-time. Free. Our mission
Source document text, dates, docket IDs, and authority are extracted directly from ASEAN.
The summary, classification, recommended actions, deadlines, and penalty information are AI-generated from the original text and may contain errors. Always verify against the source document.
Classification
Who this affects
Taxonomy
Browse Categories
Get alerts for this source
We'll email you when ASEAN News publishes new changes.
Subscribed!
Optional. Filters your digest to exactly the updates that matter to you.