PASIG CITY, (PIA) -- President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos, Jr. assured that his trip to Phnom Penh in Cambodia for the 40th and 41st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summits is to promote and protect the interest of the country.

During his departure honors at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 in Pasay City, President Marcos, Jr. said that his participation in the ASEAN conference is for the interest of the Philippines.

“In the next few days, the leaders of ASEAN member states will discuss and provide policy decisions on current political security, economic and sociocultural developments, as well as global issues that are affecting South East Asia, this region and beyond.”

The President assured the Philippines’ continuing support to ASEAN.

“ASEAN has always been a cornerstone of Philippine foreign policy, and through these summits, I will convey Philippine’s continuing support for ASEAN centrality for Cambodia as the current chair of ASEAN and for Indonesia as an incoming chair of ASEAN next year.”

Marcos, Jr. also said that the Philippines will emphasize regional cooperation on maritime security, climate change, food security, health cooperation, and economic recovery.

He also mentioned that ASEAN will address regional issues, such as the pandemic situation in Myanmar, development in the South China Sea, and the ongoing conflict in Russia and the Ukraine, and other important matters.

“I will seek for further cooperation in key priorities of my administration as well as how to explore what we can do to come together to address the most pressing issues of the region.”

The President noted that this year’s ASEAN conference is important since this will be the first time the ASEAN will be able to meet again after almost three years - - to discuss and which needs to be decided upon how ASEAN member nations will jointly move forward.

Likewise, the President assured that he will promote the Philippines, not only as an investment center, not only as a tourism center, but as a global partner for ASEAN member nations and for all our friends around the world who will be joining the ASEAN conference. Adding that the ASEAN meetings will be a good opportunity for the Philippines to forge new partnerships and to strengthen those that are already existing.

Meanwhile, President Marcos, Jr. is also set to meet with the Filipino community based in Cambodia and is expected to update them on the programs and policies of the administration.

“I look forward as well to meeting the Filipino community in Cambodia. The ASEAN way, such as the mutual recognition of our contributions to each other’s nation-building efforts, is very much alive in the Kingdom of Cambodia.” (PIA-NCR)

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