Philippines reaffirms sustainable post-pandemic recovery with ASEAN

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines will reaffirm its commitment to collaborate with its neighbors and partners for a sustainable post-pandemic recovery and lasting peace and security in the region during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-United States (ASEAN-US) Special Summit this week.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. yesterday left for Washington, DC to represent President Duterte as head of the Philippine delegation to the ASEAN-US Special Summit on May 12-13.

Duterte said his main reason for not attending the summit was that he did not want to make decisions that would run counter to the desires of his successor, who would be elected last Monday.

The Chief Executive is expected to join ASEAN leaders in a number of events hosted by US President Joseph Biden Jr. and other US government officials in the two-day summit that aims to enhance and chart the future of ASEAN-US cooperation, focusing on areas like pandemic recovery, health security, maritime security, climate change, clean energy transformation, digital economy, trade and sustainable infrastructure.

Locsin’s participation in discussions with ASEAN leaders and Biden, US Vice President Kamala Harris, members of the US Congress as well as the US business sector will reaffirm the Philippines’ commitment to a sustainable post-pandemic recovery and lasting peace and security in the region.

The ASEAN-US Special Summit is the second special summit hosted by the US since it became ASEAN’s dialogue partner in 1977, making it a momentous occasion celebrating 45 years of the ASEAN-US partnership.