ASEAN 2026 Chair Emphasizes Commitment to Realize the ASEAN Community Vision 2045

Filipina Presiden Filipina Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (Wikimedia Commons - Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs)

JAKARTA - The Philippines as the Chair of ASEAN 2026 reaffirmed its commitment to continue to respect and realize the ASEAN Community Vision 2045. The affirmation was conveyed by the President of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the celebration of the 59th ASEAN Day which was held online, Saturday.

"Today, we can proudly say that ASEAN has honored that promise," Ferdinand said in his remarks at the 59th ASEAN Day celebration in Jakarta, Saturday.

Ferdinand said the 59th ASEAN Day commemoration also marked the one-year implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 which was launched on May 26, 2025 in the series of the 46th ASEAN Summit in Malaysia.

The ASEAN Community Vision 2045 carries the theme "Resilient, Innovative, Dynamic, and People-Centered ASEAN". This vision serves as a long-term guide for ASEAN member countries in strengthening cooperation, facing various challenges, and building a common future.

According to Ferdinand, ASEAN continues to encourage cooperation amid differences and conflicts, strengthening solidarity in the midst of uncertainty, and building a region based on values that are a common strength.

Through the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, member countries strive to create a safer, stronger, and prosperous life for people in the region.

"Together, we have helped maintain peace in our region. We have deepened economic cooperation, expanded opportunities, and strengthened partnerships," he said.

Ferdinand added that ASEAN has also shown that diversity is a source of strength. According to him, consensus, patience, and trust can be an important capital to encourage the progress of countries in the region.

In addition to marking the one-year implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, the 59th ASEAN Day celebration also became a momentum to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (Treaty of Amity and Cooperation/TAC).

TAC is one of the important foundations for peace, regional stability, trust, mutual respect, and peaceful coexistence in the Southeast Asian region and beyond.

The relevance of the TAC is getting stronger after four new countries accessed the agreement on July 24, 2026. The four countries are the Kingdom of Sweden, the Republic of Poland, Romania, and the Republic of Lithuania.

With the accession of these four countries, the number of state parties in the TAC increased from 58 to 62 countries.

According to Ferdinand, this development shows that ASEAN is not only focusing on managing current challenges, but also preparing the future of society in the midst of rapid global change.

He said conflicts outside the region, including the situation in the Middle East, were a reminder that a crisis could affect stability, the economy, and society far beyond national and regional borders.

"Even after the crisis is over, the community must rebuild, the economy must recover, and the people must regain confidence in the future," he said.

On the other hand, ASEAN also faces increasingly complex challenges, ranging from climate change, economic uncertainty, and geopolitical tensions to the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI).

As the Chair of ASEAN 2026, the Philippines is carrying the theme "Navigating Our Future Together". Ferdinand said the theme was the foundation for the Philippines to translate the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 into real steps and actions.

The Philippines focused ASEAN's collective response on three urgent priorities, namely energy security, food security, and the safety of ASEAN citizens amid the situation in the Middle East.

The three priorities, said Ferdinand, reflect ASEAN's commitment to strengthening cooperation that can protect people's lives, improve livelihoods, and maintain peace, prosperity, and empowerment of the people.

"This is how we determine the direction of our present and future. Through the ASEAN-led mechanism, we provide a vital space for dialogue, confidence-building, and peaceful engagement," said Ferdinand.