TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called upon Southeast Asian leaders to maintain unity and resilience in the face of economic and geopolitical uncertainty as he officially opened the 48th ASEAN Summit on Friday.
In his opening remarks to the regional heads of state, Marcos characterized the current era as a "defining moment" for Southeast Asia, as global disruptions and conflicts continue to strain economies, jeopardize livelihoods, and threaten regional stability.
"We meet at a time of considerable challenge across our region and beyond," the Philippine President stated, as reported by Antara. He highlighted how tensions in the Middle East have reverberated across ASEAN.
"The work of ASEAN must continue, not despite the challenges, but because the times demand our answers to those challenges," he added.
Marcos revealed that his administration has streamlined the implementation of ASEAN meetings, reducing non-essential activities and transitioning several agenda items to virtual formats. This strategic shift, he explained, is intended to mitigate the impact of mounting energy and economic pressures stemming from the Middle East conflict.
Despite these adjustments, he emphasized that ASEAN remains steadfast in its commitment to cooperation, adapting its regional strategies through coordinated sessions between ministers of foreign affairs, economy, agriculture, and energy.
The Philippine President further underscored that the bloc's fundamental power is rooted in its ability to cooperate during times of profound volatility. "For ASEAN has always drawn its strength not from uniformity but from unity," he noted.
Prior to the opening of the summit, President Marcos and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos welcomed the arriving leaders and their delegations.
In attendance were Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Laotian Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
They were joined by Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, Timor-Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, and Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung. Meanwhile, Myanmar was represented by U Hau Khan Sum, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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