Marcos back in PH; labels ASEAN summit a ‘success’

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. returned to the country after his participation in the 42nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, which he labeled as a success.

President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. (Photo courtesy of Malacañang)

After saying that he was able to advance various interests of the country in the summit, Marcos said it was indeed a successful regional meet as “it charted new directions” for the region.

“I believe that the summit was a success and that it charted the new directions that were initiated by the chairman, President (Joko) Widodo, and with the concurrence of all the member states, and many new ideas were ventilated and many of those were adopted, and we will hopefully see some progress on the political front and certainly on the economy front,” Marcos said.

In his arrival speech, the President said he was able to emphasize the importance of upholding the international rules-based system which underpinned regional security, peace and order in the region.

He was also able to express the Philippines’ commitment to the principles of free trade and the multilateral trading systems, as well as called for enhanced support for nano businesses, micro, small, medium enterprises and their integration into the global economy.

Situation in Myanmar

During the summit, the chief executive also raised pressing situations in the region.

He called for Myanmar to adhere to the 5-Point Consensus and expressed support for Indonesia’s enhanced initiatives in the implementation of the 5-point consensus.

“We also came to an agreement that we would adjust our approach on the situation in Myanmar and to try to engage Myanmar at every level and to all political factions that are active and are involved in the crisis situation in Myanmar,” he said.

Marcos said the ASEAN leaders have reached a consensus to do the ongoing political negotiations in “another way.”

“There are many members who have experience in this long ongoing political negotiations and the advice is to engage everyone equally and that is what we intend to do,” he said.

Ukraine-Russia war

During his participation in the summit, Marcos also expressed concern over the humanitarian crisis caused by the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia.

“I, of course, expressed our deep concern regarding the humanitarian crisis and the continued economic impacts of the Russia-Ukraine war. This contributes to global food and energy insecurity,” he said.

South China Sea dispute

The President also reaffirmed his commitment to the resolution of disputes in the South China Sea.

“On the South China Sea, I reaffirmed the Philippine commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes and advocated for a rules-based maritime order anchored on 1982 UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea),” he said.

Timor-Leste membership

Marcos likewise conveyed his support in granting Timor-Leste, which joined the summit as an observer, its full ASEAN membership.

“On Timor-Leste, I conveyed that ASEAN should support Timor-Leste in its full ASEAN membership which they, which we regard as just as a matter of time as they had come to this Summit as an observer status,” he said.

Support BIMP-EAGA

The President also encouraged ASEAN external partners “to increase their levels of engagement” in the Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).

He urged them to support the BIMP-EAGA’s role as a major catalyst in galvanizing economic development and enhancing connectivity in the subregion.

Marcos expressed gratitude to Widodo for his invitation for the summit and expressed that the country will continue to work with Indonesia and other ASEAN member states and external partners for the 43rd ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in September of 2023 in Jakarta. — Betheena Unite