President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday emphasized that global crises are opportunities to reinforce cooperation among Southeast Asian nations, as leaders convened for the 48th ASEAN Summit.
Speaking in the Philippines’ “Queen City of the South,” Marcos called the current period a defining moment requiring unity, wisdom, and decisive collective action from ASEAN member states.
“We stand together today to demonstrate ASEAN’s capacity to respond with unity, with wisdom, with resolve, at a time when our region is once again faced with profound uncertainty,” he said.
Marcos pointed to the volatile Middle East situation, which has disrupted economies, livelihoods, and regional stability, urging ASEAN governments to recalibrate policies and responses. Citizens, he said, are seeking “not only stability, but reassurance and hope” from their leaders.
“Over the past months, each of our countries has had to make adjustments, to modify our approaches. So we come together now, to study those adjustments, to find the best approaches, to face the future together,” Marcos added.
Highlighting the Philippines’ own response as ASEAN chair, he said nonessential events were scaled down and some meetings shifted online, but stressed that ASEAN’s work must continue.
“The work of ASEAN must continue, not despite the challenges, but because the times demand our answers to those challenges,” he said.
Marcos concluded by underscoring ASEAN’s long-standing unity, noting that adversity has historically strengthened cooperation and shared responsibility.
“If there is one lesson ASEAN has learned over the decades, it is that difficult times do not divide us. Challenges present opportunities that strengthen our resolve to work more closely together,” he said.
