Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has underscored the importance of maintaining strong relations between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its external partners as critical for regional peace and security. Marcos highlighted this point during the Southeast Asian Leaders’ Interface with the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), emphasizing that such cooperation is vital for addressing pressing issues in the region.
According to Philippines News Agency, AIPA’s engagement with the parliaments of ASEAN’s external partners creates opportunities for deeper cooperation and advancing regional priorities. He noted that this platform for dialogue supports ASEAN’s efforts to build mutual understanding and strategic trust amid challenges to regional peace and security.
Marcos warned of “complex and unpredictable shifts” in the geopolitical landscape that are testing the foundations of the international order, which has supported ASEAN’s growth. He called for reaffirming ASEAN’s commitment to core values, including the sovereign equality of states, peaceful dispute resolution, and adherence to the rule of law.
Marcos also emphasized that inter-parliamentary diplomacy should respect ASEAN’s centrality and align with the region’s collective vision. He urged the enactment of responsive legislation, development of policies, and provision of resources to advance ASEAN’s regional goals, including economic integration, infrastructure development, supply chain connectivity, cybersecurity, MSME empowerment, and climate change adaptation.