Intervention by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at the 26th ASEAN-ROK Summit
His Excellency President Lee Jae Myung,
Your Majesty,
Excellencies,
The Philippines particularly underscores the Republic of Korea’s (ROK) cooperation with ASEAN in the political security pillar.
We note the ROK’s initiatives on cybersecurity, such as the ASEAN Cyber Shield (ACS) Project, which aims to build capacity and train cybersecurity experts across the ASEAN Region, thereby enhancing ASEAN’s overall cybersecurity response capabilities.
On maritime cooperation, we acknowledge that it is essential to regional peace and stability, sustainable development, and shared prosperity.
In this regard, we recognize the ROK as a valued partner in advancing ASEAN’s maritime priorities, anchored on a rules-based international order and UNCLOS.
We look forward to co-chairing with the ROK and the United States the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Workshop on Best Practices for Port State Measures to Combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing.
The Philippines, as a country vulnerable to natural disasters, acknowledges that the ASEAN Standards and Certification for Experts in Disaster Management (ASCEND), funded by the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund (AKCF), will enhance the quality of human resources in disaster management by establishing a common set of standard skills and competencies among ASEAN countries.
Your Majesty, Excellencies,
On the economic front, the Philippines welcomes the launch of the negotiations to upgrade the ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Area (AKFTA), a timely step in strengthening ASEAN-Korea economic ties and ensuring that our partnership remains relevant in today’s rapidly changing global economy.
The review of the AKFTA is an important signal of our shared determination to keep markets open and to push back against growing protectionist tendencies in the global economy. By doing so, we reaffirm ASEAN and Korea’s commitment to transparency, fairness, and cooperation in trade.
The Philippines also welcomes the ROK’s continued support in advancing MSME and startup development in the region.
In particular, we commend the initiatives of the ASEAN-Korea Centre, such as the annual ASEAN-Korea Startup Week, which serves as a valuable platform for promising ASEAN startups to engage in networking and capacity-building activities with their Korean counterparts.
ASEAN and the ROK also continue to work closely together under the Socio-Cultural Community Pillar.
The Philippines joins ASEAN in thanking the ROK for its programs that foster cultural exchanges, particularly the ASEAN-ROK Film Community Programme, the ASEAN-Korea Music Festival, and the KONNECT ASEAN – an ASEAN-ROK Art and Culture Programme.
These initiatives empower and enhance people-to-people interactions and act as an avenue for creatives to refine their crafts, thereby contributing to the flourishing of creative industries in our respective countries.
On environment and climate change cooperation, we note with appreciation the ROK’s support for ASEAN’s environmental sustainability efforts.
Through projects such as the Clean Air for Sustainable ASEAN (CASA) and the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation for Methane Mitigation (AKCMM), the ROK has contributed to improving access
to clean air.
These types of initiatives demonstrate our shared commitment to advancing the vision of a sustainable ASEAN Community.
Your Majesty, Excellencies,
I am confident that ASEAN and the ROK will continue to work together to advance peace, prosperity, and security in our region because we are guided by a common goal of uplifting the lives of our peoples.
Thank you.
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