MANILA -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will stress the importance of regional cooperation on various issues during the 40th and 41st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summits and Related Summits in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

“My participation will promote and protect Philippine interests in ASEAN. We will emphasize regional cooperation on maritime security, climate change, food security, health cooperation, and economic recovery, among others,” the President said in his departure statement at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2.

“We will also address regional issues such as the pandemic, the situation in Myanmar, developments in the South China Sea, and the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, among other important matters,” the President pointed out.

The President noted it would be his first time to attend the ASEAN Summit, the highest policy-making body of ASEAN, which will be held from November 10 to 13.

“In the next few days, the Leaders of ASEAN member states will discuss and provide policy decisions on current political, security, economic and socio-cultural developments as well as global issues affecting the Southeast Asian region and beyond,” the chief executive said.

In addition, there would also be summits with ASEAN’s dialogue partners, including Australia, Canada, China, Japan, India, the Republic of Korea and the United States, to review existing and new areas of cooperation and exchange of views on regional and international issues.

The President said he would convey the Philippines’ support for ASEAN centrality, for Cambodia as the current Chair of ASEAN, and for Indonesia, as the incoming Chair of ASEAN next year, noting that ASEAN has always been a cornerstone of the country’s foreign policy.

On the sidelines of the summit, the President is expected to meet with some of his counterparts in ASEAN and ASEAN’s dialogue partners.

“I will seek 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 in our region,” he said.

The chief executive is also looking forward to meeting the Filipino community in Cambodia.

Marcos said he would seek to promote the Philippines “not only as an investment center but as a global partner for our ASEAN member-nations and for our friends around the world.” (PND)