Manila, July 8 -- Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro has met and affirmed Manila's ties with Southeast Asian foreign ministers in her first official travel overseas as the country's top diplomat since assuming the position last week.

Lazaro is in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to engage with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) ahead of the Philippines' 2026 chairmanship and meet with her counterparts from various countries.

She first met with ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn on the sidelines of the 58th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and discussed preparations for the Philippines' summit hosting next year.

"We count on the ASEAN Secretariat's support as we prepare for our upcoming chairship to advance a people-oriented...