29 November 2013 – The Philippines successfully pushed for greater cooperation in the fields of tourism and energy among Asian countries, and the importance of adherence to the rule of law to ensure peace, stability and security in the Asian region at the 12th Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain on November 25.
In the meeting’s outcome document called the “Manama Declaration,” the Foreign Ministers and Heads of Delegation of the ACD agreed to actively work together in enhancing and advancing regional collaboration in tourism and energy. The Ministers also agreed to “fully and effectively build trust and confidence, as a group and in concert with the international community, in order to enhance maritime security by peaceful means, in accordance with international law, relevant international instruments and UN resolutions.”
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for International Economic Relations Laura Q. Del Rosario, who headed the Philippine delegation to the meeting, welcomed the adoption of the Manama Declaration citing that it reflected the interests and advocacies of the Philippines in the regional grouping.
In her Ministerial statement, Undersecretary Del Rosario called for long-term cooperative action in dealing with the adverse effects of climate change, emphasizing that most actions of the international community are focused on mitigations as opposed to adaptation.
She said, “The international community stands at a point where even the most aggressive and immediate actions to mitigate climate change will not stop the impact for the next half of this century. While deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions may buy time for human and natural systems to adapt in the decades ahead, we must also begin dealing with the unfolding impact of climate change now.”
She also highlighted the significance of energy cooperation in the region, underscoring the obligations of countries under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
“As we fulfill our obligations under the UNFCCC to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels, we must also continuously strive to improve energy efficiency, expand use of renewable resources, support research in new energy technology and develop green energy systems. These are all consistent with the aims of the ACD Energy Plan of Action,” Undersecretary Del Rosario stressed.
The Meeting adopted the ACD Energy Plan of Action, the formulation and negotiations of which were successfully steered by the Philippines and Indonesia as ACD Co-Prime Movers on Energy. The Plan of Action sets the framework for energy cooperation among ACD member states in four thematic areas -- regional energy infrastructure networks, renewable energy sources and alternative fuels, clean technology for indigenous energy development and energy efficiency and conservation measures.
The Philippines likewise supported the meeting’s theme “Promoting Intra-Asian Tourism,” which called for the strengthening of cooperation in the region, especially in the field of tourism, and the enhancement of people-to-people contacts to encourage investments and open the doors of intra-Asian cultural and tourism exchange.
Aside from Undersecretary del Rosario, senior officials from the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) also attended the meeting as members of the Philippine delegation.
The ACD was established in June 2002 with the aim of promoting interdependence among Asian members in all areas of cooperation, expand the trade and financial market within Asia, and ultimately transform the Asian continent into an Asian community, among others. The Philippines is one of the 18 founding members of the ACD, which presently has a total of 33 members. END
