Marcos urges ASEAN members to strengthen regional ties

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President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday urged Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member-states to strengthen partnerships and cooperation in addressing challenges facing the region.

Marcos made the call during the plenary session of the 49th ASEAN Summit, where he outlined the Philippines' priorities as this year's chair: peace and security, prosperity, and people empowerment.

"Our institutions must become better at working across pillars and sectors, drawing on the strengths of governments, business, civil society, academia, and our people," he said.

"Our partnerships should continue to advance ASEAN priorities, respond to the needs of our member states, and turn political goodwill into practical cooperation, with ASEAN at the center of the regional architecture that we have built," he added.

During the summit's opening ceremony, Marcos said the gathering provides an opportunity for member-states to address the region's pressing challenges.

These include transnational crimes such as human trafficking, cybercrime, and online scams, as well as the need to strengthen maritime cooperation.

The 49th ASEAN Summit opened on Sunday, with delegates arriving at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.— MCG, GMA News

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