Marcos tackles Middle East, South China Sea, Myanmar in 48th ASEAN Summit briefing

CEBU, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. held a press conference for the 48th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit and Related Meetings in Cebu on Friday, May 8, providing details of ASEAN leaders’ talks and responding to questions concerning the Middle East conflict, China, and the Myanmar crisis, among others.

Some highlights of Marcos’ press conference include:

• Three ASEAN priorities:
  • Regional energy security and resilience
    • “Called for the expedited ratification of the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Petroleum Security”
    • “Pushed for the operationalization of the ASEAN Power Grid…to enable cross-border power trading, support renewable integration, and deliver more affordable electricity to nearly 700 million people”
  • Food security
    • “Called for the swift ratification of the upgraded ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement, which modernizes regional trade, eliminates non-tariff barriers, and builds on ATIGA’s landmark achievement of making ASEAN virtually tariff-free…. Critically, its crisis provisions ensure that essential goods continue to flow during emergencies.”
  • Safety of ASEAN nationals abroad
    • “Faster coordination, accelerated information-sharing, stronger cooperation with host governments, and timely support for those ASEAN nationals who may need urgent assistance, evacuation, and/or repatriation”

• Issuance of the ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on the Response to the Middle East Crisis

• Adoption of the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Maritime Cooperation (includes the proposal to establish an ASEAN Maritime Centre in the Philippines)

• Adoption of the ASEAN Declaration on the Empowerment of Youth in Climate Action and Disaster Resilience

• Issuance of the ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on the ASEAN Convergence on Disaster Response: the ASEAN Strategic Protocol for Emergency and Comprehensive Transformation or ASPECT Framework

• Adoption of the Cebu Protocol to Amend the Charter of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations

• Adoption of the BIMP-EAGA Vision 2035, “setting a 10-year agenda across connectivity, food and energy security, digital transformation, and sustainable development.” BIMP-EAGA stands for the Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area.

Watch Marcos’ press conference in the video above. – Rappler.com