Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
May 25, 2025
Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Maria Angela Ponce sheds light on the participation of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to the 46th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, the 2nd ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit and the ASEAN-GCC-China Economic Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
In an interview with RTVM, the Ambassador shares that the President has consistently upheld and promoted the Philippines in the ASEAN, including underscoring the nation’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Award.
The Ambassador states that the Chief Executive championed the protection of migrant workers’ rights and called for the peaceful resolution of regional conflicts. Regarding the economy, he supports digital transformation and the establishment of a digital economy in ASEAN, as well as enhancing economic integration by upgrading the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA).
“The President will continue to advocate what the Philippines and what he has championed in recent years. Very important for the President is calling for deepening security cooperation and also enhancing regional stability,” Ambassador Ponce says, stating further that apart from discussing the threats of climate change, President Marcos Jr. is likewise set to push for maritime cooperation, calling for intensified negotiations towards the Conclusion of a Code of Conduct (COC) on the South China Sea.
On the Philippines’ relations with Malaysia, Ambassador Ponce highlights that the two countries have robust relations based on mutual respect and strong cooperation in trade, security and people-to-people ties. In 2024, Malaysia was the Philippines’ 9th largest trading partner, 11th largest export market, and 7th largest source of imports.
The Filipino community in Malaysia is also among the top contributors to both the Philippines and Malaysia’s economy. As per the latest figures from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Filipino migrant workers from Malaysia contributed US$661.8 million last year in terms of remittances.
The President’s participation in the ASEAN Summit chaired by Malaysia is poised to deepen engagements between the Philippines and Malaysia. Ambassador Ponce underscores that the country is supportive of Malaysia’s Chairship and will work closely with its government in addressing its priorities as Chair and also ASEAN’s initiatives.
“This close collaboration between the Philippines and Malaysia is very important, because as you said, the Philippines takes over and assumes Chairship of ASEAN next year. So, it’s very important that we build on the initiatives of Malaysia, and we’re also able to articulate and be able to have new initiatives, all for the good of ASEAN,” the Ambassador concludes in the interview.
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