Vientiane, Lao PDR
October 11, 2024

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. emphasized the critical importance of multilateralism in tackling global challenges at the 14th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-United Nations (UN) Summit in Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR).

Speaking before his counterparts in the ASEAN Member States and UN Secretary-General António Guterres, President Marcos Jr. congratulated the UN on its recent General Assembly, underscoring the need for institutions to actively uphold international law amid rising threats to the rules-based order.

The President highlighted ASEAN’s essential role in promoting regional stability and its contributions to addressing climate change. He announced the Philippines’ hosting of the Loss and Damage Fund Board aimed at supporting vulnerable nations and detailed upcoming initiatives, including the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR) and an International Conference on Women, Peace and Security (ICWPS).

Concluding his intervention, President Marcos Jr. reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to UN goals and expressed gratitude for ASEAN’s support to the country’s bid for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council for 2027-2028, promising to advance regional interests within the UN framework.

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