Marcos calls for Asean unity amid int’l crises
President Marcos called on Southeast Asian nations to strengthen cooperation against conflicts, climate change, economic uncertainty and artificial intelligence as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) marked its 59th anniversary.
Mr. Marcos said the region must prepare its people for a rapidly changing world. He cited the monthslong conflict in the Middle East as a reminder that crises can disrupt stability, economies and communities far beyond their point of origin.
“Even after crises pass, societies must rebuild, economies must recover and peoples must regain confidence in the future,” he said in a message marking Asean Day on Aug. 8.
The Philippines serves as Asean chair this year under the theme “Navigating Our Future Together.” It is also the host for the 48th and 49th Asean Summits, with the latter to be conducted in Manila in November. Leaders from all over the world are expected to attend the event.
Mr. Marcos said the country, as chair, had sought to turn the Asean Community Vision 2045, the bloc’s strategic roadmap adopted last year in Kuala Lumpur, into concrete action.
At the 48th Asean Summit in Cebu back in May, Asean focused on three urgent concerns: energy security, food security and the safety of Asean nationals amid the conflict in the Middle East.
“These priorities reflect Asean’s commitment to cooperation that protects lives, improves livelihoods and upholds peace, prosperity and people empowerment,” Mr. Marcos said.
He noted that Asean “acted swiftly and with resolve.”
“In those critical moments, we saw once again the strength of Asean when we lead with purpose, sail with unity and rise as one family,” the President said.
Mr. Marcos also defended the importance of Asean centrality, saying that Asean-led mechanisms provide platforms for dialogue, confidence-building and peaceful engagement.
Cornerstone of peace
“Through consultation, mutual respect and adherence to international law, we advance cooperation and common purpose,” he said.
The resumption of attacks in the Middle East, escalating tension in the South China Sea, as well as the Myanmar civil war and the Thailand-Cambodia border dispute were among the topics discussed during the Asean Foreign Ministers’ Summit in July.
It was also during this meeting that Asean celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in Southeast Asia, which Mr. Marcos cited as “a cornerstone of peace, regional stability, trust, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence in our region and beyond.”
Four countries—Sweden, Poland, Romania and Lithuania—have joined TAC, increasing the number of high contracting parties from 58 to 62.
“These milestones remind us that Asean has never only been about managing the present. It has also always been about preparing our peoples for the future,” the President said.
He added that beyond security concerns, Asean must prepare for long-term economic and technological changes.
The region is home to nearly 700 million people and is already the world’s fifth-largest economy, he said. Its size makes Asean an attractive destination for trade, investment, innovation and long-term partnerships.
But according to Mr. Marcos, the region’s strength goes beyond its markets.
“It lies in the talent of our people, the creativity of our innovators, the hard work of our communities and the shared determination of our nations to build a more connected, inclusive, resilient and future-ready Asean,” he said.
******
Get real-time news updates: inqnews.net/inqviber
