Reception Hall, Malacañan Palace
October 26, 2021

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte joined his fellow Leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for the 9th ASEAN-United States Summit via virtual convention.

This is the first time that the ASEAN Member Countries convened with United States President Joseph Biden to discuss ways of further enhancing partnership in several areas of mutual cooperation including regional peace and security, maritime stability, trade and investments, climate change, and global health resilience, among others.

During the Summit, the ASEAN Leaders conveyed their gratitude to the US government for extending assistance to the Southeast Asian region during the onset of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, particularly the provision of equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, medicines and medical supplies. Through this, they looked forward to US support in the establishment of an ASEAN Public Health Emergency Cooperation System to effectively address public health emergencies in the future.

The Leaders also underscored that the strategic relation with the US amid the health crisis is essential for a post-pandemic economic recovery, as well as securing prosperity and mutual benefits across the regional bloc.

Moreover, the Leaders welcomed the US support in maintaining peaceful resolution amid the ongoing territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea, anchored on existing international laws including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Award.

Chaired by Brunei Darussalam, this year’s 39th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits centered on the theme, ‘We Care, We Prepare, We Prosper.’ Due to the ongoing public health emergency in Southeast Asia, all meetings relative to the ASEAN Summit were held via virtual convention.

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