JAKARTA—President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. arrived here on Monday night as he readies to meet other world leaders before the opening of the 43rd ASEAN Summit today.
Mr. Marcos stressed he would discuss security, economy, agriculture, and migrant welfare issues, as well as pursue a statement on the country’s ongoing incursions with China in the regional meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
The President was joined by First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, his son and Ilocos Norte first district Rep. Sandro Marcos, House Speaker and Leyte first district Rep. Martin Romualdez, and the government’s economic managers and Cabinet secretaries on board PR001, which landed in Indonesia at exactly 6 p.m. (7 p.m. in Manila).
Apart from local officials, Mr. Marcos was welcomed by Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia Gina Jamoralin, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to ASEAN Hjayceelyn Quintana, PH Defense Attaché in Indonesia Col. Emmanuel Canilla, and Police Attaché in Indonesia Col. Donald Madamba.
“Once again, I will use this opportunity to advance Philippine priorities in ASEAN and work with our other ASEAN member states not only in addressing the complex challenges facing the region but also in pursuing opportunities for ASEAN as an ‘epicenter of growth,’” the President said earlier in his departure statement at Villamor Airbase.
“My participation will highlight our advocacies in promoting a rules-based international order, including in the South China Sea, strengthening food security, calling for climate justice, tapping the potential of the digital and creative economies, protecting migrant workers in crisis situations, as well as combating Trafficking-in-Persons,” he added.
The second ASEAN Summit of this year provides a strategic opportunity for the regional bloc to deepen its partnerships with Australia, Canada, India, China, Japan, Korea, the United States, and the United Nations, Marcos said, noting they will foster cooperation with these countries in trade and investment, climate action, food security, clean energy, and maritime cooperation.
The President also said he would participate in the ASEAN Plus Three and East Asia Summits to discuss developments in the South China Sea, the situation in Myanmar, and the conflict in Ukraine; as well as on major power rivalries.
“I will also take the opportunity to meet with bilateral partners at the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit to advance cooperation that will benefit our national priorities,” he said.
“My administration will continue to ensure that our constructive engagements with ASEAN, our dialogue partners, and stakeholders serve our national interest and the well-being of the Filipino people,” the President added
Mr. Marcos is expected to attend 13 leader-level engagements, 12 of which are summit sessions with other leaders, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.
The 43rd Summit and Related Summits has for its theme, “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth.” It will conclude on Sept. 7, with a handover ceremony of the ASEAN chairmanship from Indonesia to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.
Established with five founding nations, including the Philippines, on Aug. 8, 1967, in Bangkok, Thailand, ASEAN is a political and economic union of 10 member states in Southeast Asia. It is composed of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Cambodia.
Meanwhile, as a sign of maritime cooperation, the Philippines and the United States are currently conducting a bilateral sail in the Philippine waters located west of Palawan.
The activity is done under the Mutual Defense Board–Security Engagement Board (MDB-SEB) framework that aims to develop operational interoperability between the navies of the two countries.
Using the Philippine Navy’s guided-missile frigate BRP Jose Rizal (FF150) and the US Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided missile-destroyer USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 114), the AFP Western Command’s Naval Task Force 41 and the US 7th fleet will carry out a division tactics rehearsal, enhancing interoperability between the two navies.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said it will continue to participate in bilateral and multilateral activities that will contribute to the development of its capability to protect the country’s national sovereignty and national territory.