Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Malaysia
May 26, 2025
Commencing his participation in the 46th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. delivered his intervention during the Plenary Session held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Malaysia.
The President conveyed the country’s deep appreciation to Malaysia for its Chairship and for advancing the theme, ‘Inclusivity and Sustainability’, which reflects not only the aspirations of the Region but the shared responsibilities Member States must adopt in the evolving global landscape.
“In the Philippines, our national strategies help define our path towards deeper stability and security. Yet these objectives can only be realized by working together with our partners, as we collectively navigate a constantly shifting global architecture,” he said.
“Sustainable growth requires that we invest in our people. Each of us must contribute to win the future we envision for our community. Inclusive development is equitable, empowering, and transformative,” he continued.
On urgent matters, he stressed that geopolitical tensions, unexpected trade barriers and the unprecedented impact of climate change have the potential to disrupt communities, supply chains and progress. He called for the urgent need to accelerate the adoption of a legally binding Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea to safeguard maritime rights, promote stability and prevent miscalculations at sea.
He commended Malaysia’s leadership in convening the Special ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting and welcomed the consensus to avoid retaliatory measures, saying that this measured and unified approach upholds ASEAN’s commitment to dialogue, diplomacy, and a rules-based multilateral trading system.
“Effective responses to transnational crime require robust cooperation, timely intelligence-sharing, and strengthened law enforcement,” he stated, reaffirming the Philippines’ commitment to the full implementation of the ASEAN Declaration to Prevent and Combat Trafficking in Persons Caused by the Abuse of Technology.
Furthermore, as the Philippines hosts the Board of the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage, the country will continue to advocate for climate security and disaster preparedness. The Chief Executive urged Partners to scale up predictable, accessible, and adequate climate finance to enable ASEAN to realize its climate ambitions and safeguard the future of communities.
“ASEAN has always been an outward-looking community, guided and anchored by a common set of values, our love for peace, and concern for the welfare of our peoples… Let us, therefore, continue engaging our partners not merely to expand networks, but to uphold and project the values that define ASEAN — peace, inclusivity, and shared progress. As we support Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairship in 2025, we stand ready to build on our shared achievements and sustain momentum until 2026,” President Marcos Jr. concluded in his intervention.
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