President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. rallied for regional unity on Friday to make the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) responsive to present challenges, as he called on his fellow leaders to continue creating an inclusive and resilient ASEAN conducive to growth and prosperity.
In his intervention during the 40th ASEAN Summit Plenary, President Marcos highlighted the need to reassert ASEAN Centrality to implement the ASEAN-led mechanisms for its community-building efforts.
“It is imperative that we reassert ASEAN Centrality. This in the face of geopolitical dynamics and tensions in the region and the proliferation of Indo-Pacific engagements including the requests of our Dialogue Partners for closer partnerships,” the President said.
“ASEAN’s response to this is the forward-looking ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, with its essential element of ASEAN Centrality in the implementation of ASEAN-led mechanisms, projects, and initiatives for our Community Building efforts,” Marcos pointed out.
The chief executive suggested the enhancement of ASEAN solidarity as the regional grouping confronts challenges such as natural disasters, health emergencies, armed conflicts, and economic recessions.
In this spirit, Marcos called on Myanmar to abide by and implement the previously agreed Five Point Consensus.
The Philippine leader also called for the reinvigoration of the region’s economies through tourism recovery, energy cooperation as well as trade and investment revitalization.
“Let us enhance ASEAN food security cooperation through strengthened initiatives and expanded projects under the ASEAN Ministers of Agriculture and Forestry and other related mechanisms. This will also include our Dialogue Partners,” he said.
“We need to solidify our food resilience and promote food self-sufficiency, through the use of new agricultural technologies, in order to protect the region and our countries from shocks to the global food value chain, as well as against adverse effects of climate change,” Marcos stressed.
Improved digitalization should benefit micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), e-commerce platforms, and other sectors, the President said, adding digital and cyber cooperation in the healthcare system must also be upgraded.
To address the climate crisis, the President called for a united voice and urged all countries to fulfill their obligation to attain carbon neutrality by 2050.
The regional bloc must also continue supporting the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity in its efforts to conserve, protect and advocate for the sustainable use of biodiversity and adopt evidence-based approaches to climate change. | PND
