By Darryl John Esguerra | Philippine News Agency
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. came back to the Philippines from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia after attending the 46th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits where he reiterated the Philippines’ position on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and emphasized regional economic resilience and cooperation.
The plane carrying the President and his delegation landed in Manila at 3:19 a.m. on Wednesday.
“This Summit was once again an opportunity to discuss among our fellow ASEAN Member States and partners how we should navigate our futures together,” Marcos said in his arrival statement.
Regarding regional tensions, particularly in the South China Sea, the President reiterated the Philippines’ unwavering stance, “I reaffirmed that the Philippines will continue to defend our sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea, in accordance with international law.”
“We continue to strengthen our partnerships with all countries who share our values and our commitment to peace and the rule of law,” he added.
Marcos emphasized the importance of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, a “code of conduct which governs the inter-state relations in the region.”
Leaders also tackled economic growth and strategic integration.
The President highlighted ASEAN’s 2024 growth rate of 4.7%—which was above the global average—and warned against “unilateral tariff measures, which pose a threat to a region as economically integrated as ours.”
He welcomed the establishment of the ASEAN Geoeconomics Task Force, which he described as “an ad-hoc, specialized, high-level advisory body” to offer real-time analysis and policy recommendations for the region’s economic health.
Also, the Chief Executive highlighted ASEAN’s efforts to narrow development gaps through inclusive growth, sustainable investments, and initiatives in education, green jobs, and protection of migrant workers’ rights.
“We are collaborating with our partners to promote inclusive growth, particularly for the marginalized, the underdeveloped, and vulnerable communities,” he said.
On technological governance, Marcos cited the region’s steps toward managing emerging technologies responsibly.
“We noted the ongoing development of the Declaration on the Establishment of the ASEAN Artificial Intelligence Safety Network. This is a crucial step to institutionalize AI safety, ethics, and governance principles,” he added.
Pres. Marcos also met with leaders from Lao PDR, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Kuwait at the ASEAN – Arab Gulf States Summit, discussing trade, maritime cooperation, AI, and the welfare of overseas Filipinos.
“In all my bilateral engagements, one thing is clear: we have to continue to cooperate and to work together to navigate a future that presents us with many opportunities together with many challenges,” he said.
Looking ahead, Marcos said the Philippines is prepares to chair ASEAN in 2026.
“The Philippines looks forward to building on the gains of Malaysia’s Chairship and carry ASEAN forward as we ‘navigate our future together’.”
