President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. reiterated the steadfast commitment of the Philippines to a rules-based international order as he called on members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United Nations (UN) to respect and uphold international laws to address challenges to peace, stability, and security in the region.
“The Philippines reiterates its steadfast commitment to a rules-based international order. We call on the members of the international community to respect and uphold the principles of international law to address the challenges to peace, stability, and security,” President Marcos said in his intervention at the 13th ASEAN-UN Summit on Thursday.
President Marcos is currently in Jakarta, Indonesia attending the 43rd ASEAN Summit and Related Summits.
Speaking before UN Secretary General António Guterres, President Marcos noted that the ASEAN has consistently upheld the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, a guidepost in dealing with common issues and concerns in the international community, for nearly five decades of ASEAN-UN relations.
Marcos emphasized that peace and security are the cornerstone of the ASEAN-UN Cooperation.
“The Philippines reiterates its call on the international community to adhere to the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and a rules-based international order,” the chief executive added.
President Marcos also thanked the UN for its assistance in building disaster and climate-resilient communities as he assured the UN of the Philippines’ commitment to the implementation of the ASEAN-UN Joint Strategic Plan of Action on Disaster Management for 2021-2025.
The chief executive further emphasized that the Philippines believes that the ASEAN-UN partnership will deepen under “Our Common Agenda,” which is the UN’s new roadmap and social contract for global cooperation in the next 25 years.
“While ASEAN provides insights into regional dynamics and challenges, the UN has the global reach and expertise in various other fields. By continuing to work together, our organizations are able to leverage our strengths and expertise to achieve common goals,” Marcos said.
“ASEAN and the UN may explore cooperation in the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, which aims to contribute to the region and globally through attaining the Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs,” he added.
President Marcos believes the goal can only be achieved by continuing to align the regional development agenda with the SDGs and the UN’s enhanced engagement with relevant ASEAN institutions and centers of excellence such as the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity.
The President urged the member countries to utilize their “complementary roles” to continue to accelerate progress towards achieving not only the SDGs, but also other worthy endeavors in disaster relief management, peacekeeping operations, and other programs and projects.
President Marcos also thanked the ASEAN and its member states for supporting the Philippines in its candidature for membership of the Security Council for 2027 to 2028.
“The Philippines would be honored to serve once again in this important capacity as we advocate the core interest and priorities of the ASEAN and our peoples before the United Nations through the Security Council,” Marcos said.
“Rest assured, Secretary General Guterres, that the Philippines, as a Founding Member of both the United Nations and ASEAN, remains strongly committed to the determination that we will ‘leave no one behind’,” the chief executive added.
President Marcos also assured the ASEAN-UN that the Philippines will continue to work together to uphold the common shared values and achieve the shared aspirations for a more inclusive and people-oriented future. PND
