President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. (Photograph from the Official Fb web page of Bongbong Marcos)
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday stated member states of the Affiliation of Southeast Asian Nations have agreed to reinforce regional collaboration on sustainable agriculture, meals safety, and digital transformation.
President Marcos made the comment in his arrival assertion following his attendance on the forty fourth and forty fifth Affiliation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summits and Associated Summits in Vientiane, Laos.
“We mentioned not simply the challenges that we face individually but in addition our shared dedication to discovering enduring options that can safeguard our collective future,” Marcos stated in a pre-recorded video.
“The leaders of ASEAN agreed to work extra intently collectively in selling sustainable agriculture to realize long-term meals safety,” he stated.
The President additionally highlighted the significance of supporting Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by way of enhanced entry to financing and international provide chain integration.
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“We’re collaborating with our companions to help our MSMEs by addressing financing gaps and enhancing their capacities,” Marcos stated.
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Consistent with regional efforts for financial development, he talked about ASEAN’s deal with digital transformation and sustainable and inclusive tourism, stressing that this might profit the Philippines’ personal objectives.
“It will complement the Philippines’ initiatives in positioning itself as a first-rate vacation spot for sustainable tourism,” he stated.
Marcos additionally underscored the Philippines’ function in main “vital initiatives which can be vital to the way forward for the area, significantly as host of the Loss and Harm Fund Board, which facilitates the circulation of local weather finance to weak international locations.
“The Philippines is privileged to play a strategic function in supporting the circulation of local weather finance to international locations most weak to local weather change in addition to to advocate for wanted help and motion on local weather resilience,” he stated.
Consistent with local weather change mitigation efforts, he introduced that the Philippines will host the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Convention on Catastrophe Threat Discount subsequent week.
This gathering, he stated, goals to bolster cooperation with different international locations in catastrophe preparedness and response.
Defending Sovereignty within the West Philippine Sea
On the problem of the West Philippine Sea, Marcos reaffirmed the Philippines’ dedication to upholding its sovereign rights within the contested waters.
“I reaffirm that the Philippines will proceed to defend our sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction within the West Philippine Sea,” the President stated, stressing that each one actions will adhere to worldwide legislation.
“The Philippines is continuous to strengthen its partnerships with all international locations who share our values and our dedication to peace and to the rule of legislation,” he added.
On the sidelines of the summits, the President took the chance to carry bilateral talks with varied leaders, together with from Vietnam, Canada, and New Zealand.
Discussions with Vietnam centered on agricultural cooperation, together with signed agreements on rice commerce, good agriculture, analysis and know-how, farm administration, and sustainability, Marcos famous.
Marcos, in the meantime, thanked Canada for its help, particularly on protection and maritime pursuits.
He additionally expressed optimism concerning the upcoming Group Canada commerce mission to the Philippines in December.
President Marcos congratulated Canada’s presidency of the Group of Seven (G7) in 2025, which he earlier stated would play a big function in addressing international challenges and selling nearer cooperation with ASEAN.
Marcos mentioned methods to raise ties with New Zealand in a bilateral assembly, significantly forward of the sixtieth anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2026.
Marcos expressed gratitude to the Lao Folks’s Democratic Republic (PDR) for its profitable 2024 chairmanship of ASEAN, including he appears to be like ahead to Malaysia assuming the management function in 2025.
“Making full use of our schedule whereas right here, I briefly met with the leaders of Lao PDR the EU and Japan and expressed our dedication to additional strengthen bilateral relations,” he stated.
ASEAN consists of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. (PNA)