Marcos Jr. to promote ‘global partner’ Philippines at ASEAN Summit

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos vowed yesterday to promote the Philippines as a “global partner” of its allies and to protect its interests as he departed for Cambodia to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit.

In his departure statement, Marcos said the ASEAN meet is a “very, very good” opportunity to forge new partnerships and to strengthen those that have already existed for a long time.?

“And so this is the purpose of the trip. And once again, we will promote the Philippines not only as an investment center, not only as a tourism center, but as a partner, a global partner for our ASEAN member-nations and for all our friends around the world who will be joining the ASEAN conference,” the President said.

“My participation will promote and protect Philippine interests in ASEAN,” he added.

Marcos said he would emphasize regional cooperation on maritime security, climate change, food security, health cooperation and economic recovery during his first ASEAN summit as president.

The summit is also expected to address regional issues like the COVID-19 pandemic, the situation in Myanmar, developments in the South China Sea and the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, he added.

Leaders of ASEAN member-states will discuss and provide policy decisions on key political, security, economic and socio-cultural developments and global issues affecting the region.

ASEAN member-countries are also set to hold summits with their dialogue partners including Australia, Canada, China, Japan, India, South Korea and the US “to review existing and new areas of cooperation and exchange views on regional and international issues,” Marcos said.

The President is scheduled to have bilateral meetings with some of his fellow leaders but Malacañang has yet to disclose details.

“I will seek further cooperation in key priorities of my administration as well as how to explore what we can do to come together to address the most pressing issues of the region,” Marcos said.

“I have spoken often about the importance that I put on the partnerships that we make as we go forward and start to live the future of the new global economy,” he added.

Marcos said he is also looking forward to meeting the Filipino community in Cambodia.

Describing ASEAN as a “cornerstone of Philippine foreign policy,” Marcos said the summits would also provide him an opportunity to convey the Philippines’ continuing support for the regional bloc’s centrality, for Cambodia as the summit’s current chair and for Indonesia as its incoming chair

“The ASEAN way, such as the mutual recognition of our contributions to each other’s nation-building efforts, is very much alive in the Kingdom of Cambodia,” Marcos said.

“I just would like to thank all our ASEAN partner members for the interest that they have shown in the new policies that we have established here in the Philippines since I took office. So with that, I think we have a very good foundation on which to build upon within ASEAN and without ASEAN,” he added.

Vice President Sara Duterte will act as caretaker of the government while Marcos is in Cambodia.