President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. (Photograph from the Official Fb web page of Bongbong Marcos)
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday mentioned member states of the Affiliation of Southeast Asian Nations have agreed to boost regional collaboration on sustainable agriculture, meals safety, and digital transformation.
President Marcos made the comment in his arrival assertion following his attendance on the forty fourth and forty fifth Affiliation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summits and Associated Summits in Vientiane, Laos.
“We mentioned not simply the challenges that we face individually but additionally our shared dedication to discovering enduring options that can safeguard our collective future,” Marcos mentioned in a pre-recorded video.
“The leaders of ASEAN agreed to work extra intently collectively in selling sustainable agriculture to attain long-term meals safety,” he mentioned.
The President additionally highlighted the significance of supporting Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) via enhanced entry to financing and international provide chain integration.
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“We’re collaborating with our companions to help our MSMEs by addressing financing gaps and enhancing their capacities,” Marcos mentioned.
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According to regional efforts for financial development, he talked about ASEAN’s concentrate on digital transformation and sustainable and inclusive tourism, stressing that this may profit the Philippines’ personal objectives.
“This may complement the Philippines’ initiatives in positioning itself as a chief vacation spot for sustainable tourism,” he mentioned.
Marcos additionally underscored the Philippines’ function in main “crucial initiatives which are vital to the way forward for the area, notably as host of the Loss and Injury Fund Board, which facilitates the movement of local weather finance to susceptible international locations.
“The Philippines is privileged to play a strategic function in supporting the movement of local weather finance to international locations most susceptible to local weather change in addition to to advocate for wanted help and motion on local weather resilience,” he mentioned.
According to local weather change mitigation efforts, he introduced that the Philippines will host the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Convention on Catastrophe Danger Discount subsequent week.
This gathering, he mentioned, goals to bolster cooperation with different international locations in catastrophe preparedness and response.
Defending Sovereignty within the West Philippine Sea
On the difficulty of the West Philippine Sea, Marcos reaffirmed the Philippines’ dedication to upholding its sovereign rights within the contested waters.
“I reaffirm that the Philippines will proceed to defend our sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction within the West Philippine Sea,” the President mentioned, stressing that each one actions will adhere to worldwide legislation.
“The Philippines is continuous to strengthen its partnerships with all international locations who share our values and our dedication to peace and to the rule of legislation,” he added.
On the sidelines of the summits, the President took the chance to carry bilateral talks with numerous leaders, together with from Vietnam, Canada, and New Zealand.
Discussions with Vietnam centered on agricultural cooperation, together with signed agreements on rice commerce, sensible agriculture, analysis and know-how, farm administration, and sustainability, Marcos famous.
Marcos, in the meantime, thanked Canada for its help, particularly on protection and maritime pursuits.
He additionally expressed optimism in regards to the upcoming Crew Canada commerce mission to the Philippines in December.
President Marcos congratulated Canada’s presidency of the Group of Seven (G7) in 2025, which he earlier mentioned would play a big function in addressing international challenges and selling nearer cooperation with ASEAN.
Marcos mentioned methods to raise ties with New Zealand in a bilateral assembly, notably forward of the sixtieth anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2026.
Marcos expressed gratitude to the Lao Individuals’s Democratic Republic (PDR) for its profitable 2024 chairmanship of ASEAN, including he seems to be ahead to Malaysia assuming the management function in 2025.
“Making full use of our schedule whereas right here, I briefly met with the leaders of Lao PDR the EU and Japan and expressed our dedication to additional strengthen bilateral relations,” he mentioned.
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ASEAN consists of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. (PNA)