JAKARTA - Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called on leaders in Southeast Asia to unite and stand firm amid economic and geopolitical uncertainties as he officially opened the 48th ASEAN Summit, Friday, May 8.
In his opening remarks before ASEAN leaders, Marcos said that the Southeast Asian region is facing a "decisive moment" amid global disruptions and conflicts that continue to impact the economy, people's lives, and regional stability.
"We meet in the midst of major challenges that are happening in our region and beyond," said the Philippine President when highlighting the impact of tensions in the Middle East on ASEAN.
"ASEAN's tasks must continue, not because of the challenges, but because time demands our answers to these challenges," he said, adding.
Marcos revealed that his party had adjusted the implementation of the ASEAN meeting by reducing non-essential activities and changing the format of a number of agendas to an online meeting.
This, he said, is to overcome the impact of increasing energy and economic pressures due to the conflict in the Middle East.
Despite the adjustment, he emphasized that ASEAN was firmly committed to maintaining cooperation and adjusting regional responses through meetings between foreign ministers as well as economy, agriculture, and energy.
The Philippine President also emphasized that ASEAN's strength lies in its unity and cooperation, especially in uncertain times like the present.
"ASEAN has always gained its strength not from uniformity, but from its unity," he said.
Prior to the opening of the 48th ASEAN Summit summit, President Marcos and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos welcomed the ASEAN leaders and their companions who arrived at the meeting location.
The ASEAN leaders who attended were Sultan of Brunei Darussalam Hassanal Bolkiah, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Then, Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, East Timor Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, and Vietnam Prime Minister Le Minh Hung.
Myanmar was represented by U Hau Khan Sum, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
