PH Expresses Support for Thailand’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2019

21 February 2019 — The Philippines reiterated its support for Thailand’s Chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2019 during the ASEAN Senior Official’s Meeting (SOM) in Chiang Mai, Thailand on 17 January 2019.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Policy Enrique A. Manalo expressed the country’s readiness to work closely with the Chair to realize this year’s goals under the theme “Advancing Partnership for Sustainability”.

Thailand’s Chairmanship will focus on thematic areas such as maintaining sustainable peace, security, and stability in the region, increasing regional competitiveness by promoting a digital and green ASEAN, strengthening ASEAN’s coordinated response to natural disasters, and implementing activities on the designation of 2019 as the ASEAN Cultural Year.

As Country Coordinator for ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations, Undersecretary Manalo informed the SOM that the Philippines has been coordinating with China on preparations for major meetings this year such as the 28th Joint Working Group on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. END