PBBM, lumipad na patungong Indonesia para dumalo sa ASEAN Summit

UMALIS kahapon, May 9 si Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. papuntang  Labuan Bajo sa Indonesia para magpartisipa sa 42nd ASEAN Summit.

Ayon sa  Department of Foreign Affairs, inaasahan na igigiit ni Pangulong Marcos ang kahalagahan ng pagpapakita ng sentralidad ng ASEAN  sa rehiyon sa gitna ng  geopolitical rivalries.

“The President will also advance the Philippines’ priorities in ASEAN through regional and multilateral cooperation,” ayon sa DFA.

“My participation will serve to promote and protect the interest of the country including our continued efforts toward economic growth, attaining food and energy security, promoting trade and investment, combating transnational crimes such as the trafficking of persons, and protecting migrant workers in crisis situations,” ang pahayag ni Pangulong Marcos sa kanyang  pre-departure speech.

Ang  opening ceremony  ng Summit ay gaganapin, bukas, Mayo 10  na susundan ng plenary session at maging ng serye ng interfaces sa hanay ng  ASEAN leaders, representatives, at delegado na  relevant o may kaugnayan sa  ASEAN bodies.

“The leaders of ASEAN will also exchange views on pressing issues of common concerns such as developments in the South China Sea, the situation in Myanmar, and major power rivalries, amongst others,” ang wika ni Pangulong Marcos.

Sinabi pa ng Chief Executive na magpapartisipa siya sa 15th Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area.

“In these meetings, we will have the opportunity to highlight the importance of strengthening cooperation in the BIMP-EAGA sub-region to sustain a striving economy,” anito.

Looking foward naman ang Pangulo na magdaos ng bilateral meeting kasama ang mga lider ng  Timor–Leste, makikiisa sa ASEAN  para sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon bilang mga  observer o tagamasid.

“And as the theme of this ASEAN summit is clearly manifesting, it is once again towards economic growth and to recognize that ASEAN and Southeast Asia have been the partners that the other parts of the world… look to Southeast Asia as the growth center for global economy,” aniya pa rin.

“And that is why it is very important that we go and continue to discuss amongst other ASEAN leaders on how we can maximize and find that extra energy, that synergy from our working together,” dagdag na wika nito. (Daris Jose)