By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
Cognizant of emerging challenges in the region, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. praised the Republic of Korea’s (ROK) continuing support for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states in three community pillars such as political-security, economic, and socio-cultural.
In his intervention at the 26th ASEAN-ROK Summit on Monday, Marcos expressed gratitude for the East Asian nation’s initiatives in cybersecurity, citing the ASEAN Cyber Shield (ACS) Project in particular as pivotal in improving online safety in the region.
Marcos declared in his remarks on ROK’s role in promoting regional peace and stability, “We recognize the ROK as a valued partner in advancing ASEAN’s maritime priorities, anchored on a rules-based international order and UNCLOS. We look forward to co-chairing with the ROK and the United States the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Workshop on Best Practices for Port State Measures to Combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing.”
Citing the Philippines’ vulnerability to natural disasters, President Marcos welcomed the ASEAN Standards and Certification for Experts in Disaster Management (ASCEND) program—funded by the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund (AKCF)—which aims to enhance human resource capabilities in disaster management through standardized skills and competencies across ASEAN member states.
On the economic front, the President welcomed the launch of negotiations to upgrade the ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Area (AKFTA)—a timely move to strengthen economic ties and ensure that the ASEAN-Korea partnership remains relevant amid global challenges.
Marcos Jr. moreover welcomed ROK’s support for business startups, as well as micro, small, and medium enterprises, which is evident in the annual ASEAN-Korea Startup Week, serving as a conduit for ASEAN entrepreneurs to partake in productive exchanges with their Korean counterparts.
The Chief Executive moreover expressed appreciation for the East Asian nation’s initiatives that foster cultural exchange and people-to-people connectivity, with programs such as the ASEAN-ROK Film Community Programme, the ASEAN-Korea Music Festival, and KONNECT ASEAN contributing to the growth of creative industries in the region.
President Marcos Jr. concluded his remarks by commending the ROK’s active support for ASEAN’s environmental sustainability efforts, particularly through projects like Clean Air for Sustainable ASEAN (CASA) and the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation for Methane Mitigation (AKCMM).
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