PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. has vowed to protect national interests and secure recognition for the country as a reliable “global partner” during the 40th and 41st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summits in Phnom Penh, Cambodia this week.
In his pre-departure speech at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 2 on Wednesday afternoon, Marcos disclosed he will be raising issues at the meetings which will benefit the country.
“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.
“We will emphasize regional cooperation on maritime security, climate change, food security, health cooperation and economic recovery among others,” he added.
He will also raise international issues such as the political crisis in Myanmar, developments in the South China Sea, and the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Global partner
AT the summits, Marcos is also eyeing to forge new bilateral agreements with Asean member countries and the regional bloc’s dialogue partners including Australia, Canada, China, Japan, India, the Republic of Korea, and the United States.
“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,” Marcos said.
The Asean Summits, set for November 10 to 13, will be the first to be held in person in the last three years after being constrained by the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
Thus, Marcos said he expects many existing and new Asean areas of cooperation will be reviewed in the said meetings.
“And that adds to the importance because very much has happened in the past three years which we need to discuss and which we need to decide upon how we member nations of Asean will jointly move forward,” the President said.
Aside from the Asean-related meetings, Marcos will meet with the Filipino community in Cambodia. “I look forward as well to meeting the Filipino community in Cambodia,” Marcos said.
Image credits: Troi Santos