THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) says the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), a forum of 120 countries that are not linked to any major powers in the context of war, should reclaim its central role in ensuring open, inclusive, and rules-based international order governed by international law.
In a statement issued in Kampala, Uganda, DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo stressed that the significance of NAM as a movement “of developing countries, by developing countries, and for developing countries.”
Manalo asserted the need to uphold the diversity of views among member states, and called on the members to consistently apply the NAM.
“We must not ignore concerns of our members, such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. We need to apply NAM principles and rules consistent,” Manalo said.
“Solidarity in truth calls on us to call out aggression, subversion, domination, and any violation of the rule of law, regardless of its perpetrator,” the Secretary added.
Manalo also urged for focus and actions on common global challenges, such as climate change.
According to him, developed nations must be held accountable to their commitments as he said climate justice is a common cause “of highest urgency.”
“The Philippines welcomes the decision at the COP28 on the Loss and Damage Fund and would like to sustain advocacy and engagement on this issue by hosting the Loss and Damage Fund Board. We will host the Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Resilience this year in Manila,” he said.
The DFA chief said there is also a need to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The movement should pursue inclusive global development, including through fairer and more transparent multilateral economic governance institutions, he added.
“We must sustain the energy of regional organizations in driving the development agenda, and promote dynamic cooperation among them,” he said.
“In our region, ASEAN has been a driving force towards the attainment of a ‘resilient, innovative, dynamic, and integrated’ economic community. This finds resonance with the African Union’s vision of an ‘integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the international arena’ by 2063,” Manalo pointed out.