President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. reaffirmed the country’s commitment to defending its sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and emphasized regional cooperation on economic resilience, artificial intelligence, and sustainable development during the 46th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits held here.
In remarks following his return to Manila after the summit, President Marcos said the gathering of Southeast Asian leaders provided a platform to address shared geopolitical and economic challenges.
“We continue to strengthen our partnerships with all countries who share our values and our commitment to peace and the rule of law,” he said.
A key point of discussion was the rising tensions in the West Philippine Sea.
Mr. Marcos reiterated that the Philippines “will continue to defend our sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in the WPS, in accordance with international law.”
ASEAN leaders adopted the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, which outlines the region’s goals for the next two decades.
The vision aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and aims to bridge development gaps and promote inclusive growth.
On the economic front, ASEAN reported a 4.7% growth in 2024, surpassing the global average.
Leaders warned against the threat of unilateral tariff measures and welcomed the creation of the ASEAN Geoeconomics Task Force, an advisory body focused on economic strategy and foresight.
President Marcos highlighted several initiatives aimed at deepening economic integration, including upgrades to the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement, amendments to existing free trade agreements, and the expanded use of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
A new joint declaration on economic cooperation with the Gulf Cooperation Council was also welcomed.
Sustainable development and technology were high on the agenda. Marcos noted progress in promoting green finance, clean energy, and AI governance.
He announced support for the ongoing development of the ASEAN Artificial Intelligence Safety Network to institutionalize responsible and ethical AI use in the region.
In the cultural sphere, ASEAN adopted the Creative Economy Sustainability Framework, a roadmap balancing economic, social, cultural, and environmental goals. Marcos also emphasized the importance of youth engagement, citing the Philippines’ recent hosting of key ASEAN youth events.
On the sidelines of the summit, President Marcos held bilateral meetings with leaders from Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Kuwait, focusing on areas such as defense, trade, digital innovation, and migrant worker welfare.
“The welfare, safety, and progress of Filipinos working and living overseas is of paramount importance to my administration,” he said.
Mr. Marcos thanked Malaysia for hosting the summit and said the Philippines, as incoming chair of ASEAN in 2026, looks forward to “building on the gains” and “navigating our future together.”
