PBBM, nasa Indonesia para dumalo sa 43rd ASEAN SUMMIT and RELATED SUMMITS

LUMIPAD  si Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. patungong Indonesia, araw ng Lunes, para dumalo sa 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit and Related Summits.

Nangako itong  isusulong ang interest ng bansa  kasama ang kanyang constructive engagements sa ASEAN at Dialogue Partners nito.

Ang partisipasyon ng Pangulo sa summit ay  dahil na rin sa imbitasyon ni ASEAN Summit Chair Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

“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 ‘epicentrum of growth,’” ayon kay Pangulong Marcos sa kanyang  departure statement sa 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.” ayon pa rin sa Pangulo.

Sa kabilang dako, sa pangalawang ASEAN Summit ngayong taon, makapagbibigay ito ng strategic opportunity para sa regional bloc para mas palalimin ang matatag na  partnerships sa  Australia, Canada, India, China, Japan, Korea, the United States, at Estados Unidos,  United Nations, sinabi ni Pangulong Marcos na  pagyayamanin  nito ang pagtutulungan sa ibang bansa pagdating sa kalakalan at pamumuhunan, climate action, food security, clean energy, at maritime cooperation.

Winika pa ng Pangulo na magpapartisipa siya sa ASEAN Plus Three and East Asia Summits para talakayin ang mga kaganapan sa South China Sea, ang situwasyon sa Myanmar, at ang hidwaan sa Ukraine; at maging sa mga pangunahing “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. As a founding member, ASEAN has always been closely intertwined with Philippine foreign policy,” ayon sa Punong Ehekutibo.

“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,” aniya pa rin.

Inaasahan naman na dadalo ang Pangulo sa  13 leader’s level engagements, 12  mula sa bilang na ito ay  summit sessions  kasama ang ibang lider, ayon sa Foreign Affairs Department.

Ang 43rd Summit and Related Summits ay may temang  “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth.” Magtatapos ito sa Setyembre 7, mayroong handover ceremony ng ASEAN Chairmanship mula Indonesia tungo sa  Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

Itinatag noong Agosto 8, 1967, sa Bangkok, Thailand, ang ASEAN  ay isang political at economic union ng  10 member states sa Southeast Asia. Binubuo ito ng Indonesia, Malaysia, Pilipinas, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei Darussalam, Viet Nam, Lao PDR, Myanmar, at Cambodia.   (Daris Jose)