President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. departed for Tokyo on Friday to attend the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit where he is expected to highlight the ASEAN-Japan relationship, push for regional economic development, and invite investors for the country’s renewable energy sector.
In his departure statement at the Maharlika Lounge in Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, the President said this year’s last ASEAN-related Summit presents an opportunity to affirm the Philippines’ position on current international issues and advance its interests.
Marcos said it is also an opportunity to welcome the conferment of Comprehensive Partner Status to Japan, ASEAN’s trusted and reliable partner in peace, economic development, and community-building for the past 50 years.
“I will highlight that the ASEAN-Japan relationship has inexorably evolved and progressed over the past five decades, particularly in shared commitments towards peace and security, trade and investment, food security, climate action, energy security, supply chain resilience, infrastructure development, and now, connectivity,” Marcos said.
“I shall reassure ASEAN Member States and Japan that as permanent country coordinator for ASEAN-Japan Economic Relations, the Philippines will continue to shepherd ASEAN initiatives and projects with Japan not only to co-create a region of economic prosperity, but also an inclusive society that is ready for the future,” he stated.
And on the heels of the ASEAN-Japan Summit that features the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Leaders Meeting, Marcos said he would apprise the AZEC Partner countries on the current Philippine initiatives toward promoting a clean energy transition.
In that meeting, the President said he will highlight the Philippine experience in promoting clean energy projects such as the first wind farms in Southeast Asia in 2003 during his term as governor of Ilocos Norte.
“I will thus invite AZEC Partners, Japan included, to invest in the Philippine Renewable Energy Industry to achieve not only the intentions of AZEC, but also the overall goal of the Paris Agreement,” he said.
“This administration will see to it that our constructive engagements with ASEAN, our External Partners and stakeholders, will continue to best serve our national interest, inasmuch as we promote the regional interest of peace, security, and prosperity, for the well-being of the Filipino people,” he said.
The Commemorative Summit, celebrating the 50th years of ASEAN-Japan relations and cooperation, will feature three sessions focusing within the ASEAN-Japan framework.
The first session will be on Japan’s contribution to ASEAN’s community-building efforts, as well as Japan’s consistent support for ASEAN Centrality and rules-based international order and this will be followed by “Heart to Heart” Partnership across Generations.
The last summit program will be on Co-Creation of Economy and Society of the Future, in which, the President is expected to bring the Philippine economic team led by Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual. PND
