MARCOS OFF TO INDONESIA
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. yesterday emphasized the importance of promoting and protecting the Philippines’ interests during his participation in the 42nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Indonesia on May 10-12 in Labuan Baju, Indonesia.
In his pre-departure speech delivered at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, Marcos said he would discuss with his fellow ASEAN leaders several issues, including efforts to sustain economic prosperity, attain food and energy security, boost trade and investments, address transnational crimes and protect distressed migrant workers.
“I will join other Leaders of ASEAN to advance our community-building efforts in the region and ensure the well-being and security of our people, in line with Indonesia’s chairmanship theme of ‘ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth’,” Marcos said.
“My participation will serve to promote and protect the interests of our country, including our continued efforts towards economic growth, attaining food and energy security, promoting trade and investment, combatting transnational crimes such as the trafficking in persons, and protecting migrant workers in crisis situations, amongst others,” he added.
Marcos said he and his fellow Southeast Asian leaders would also exchange views on “pressing issues of common concerns” such as developments in the West Philippine Sea, the situation in Myanmar and major power rivalries.
Marcos expressed confidence that he would have “productive engagements” with nine other ASEAN leaders, noting that the 10 member-states of the regional bloc have a “very clear area of commonality,” especially when it comes to their aspiration for sustained economic growth.
“And as the theme of this ASEAN Summit is clearly manifesting, it is once again towards economic growth,” he said, stressing that the Southeast Asian region has been viewed by non-ASEAN members like China, the United States and the European Union as “growth center for the global economy.”
“And that is why it is very important that we go and continue to discuss amongst other ASEAN leaders of all the member-states on how we can maximize and find that extra energy, that synergy from our working together,” Marcos added.
Marcos will also attend the 15th Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Summit.
He would also participate in a series of interfaces of the Southeast Asian leaders with the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) and representatives from the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC), ASEAN Youth, and the High-Level Task Force on the ASEAN Community Post-2025 Vision. Philippine News Agency
