PH Raises Priorities in ASEAN in Foreign Minister Meetings

DFA Undersecretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, representing Secretary for Affairs Enrique A. Manalo, meets with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen during the opening ceremony of the 55th AMM and Related Meetings.

PHNOM PENH 08 August 2022 – DFA Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro raised Philippine priorities, including the assertion of the Arbitral Award in the South China Sea, during the 55th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and Related Meetings held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia from 30 July to 05 August 2022.

Undersecretary Lazaro represented Secretary for Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo during the foreign minister-level meetings. She is the Philippine Leader to the ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting.

The meetings allowed ASEAN Member States to discuss issues of common concern with each other and with external partners, including, among others, the situation in the South China Sea, the crisis in Myanmar, pandemic recovery, situation in Ukraine and cross-strait developments, as well as traditional and non-traditional security issues, such as climate change, terrorism and cybersecurity.

Apart from the 55th AMM, other foreign minister-level meetings included the Post-Ministerial Conferences with Dialogue Partners, the East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the 29th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), and the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Interface Meeting with the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR).

During the 55th AMM, Undersecretary Lazaro reiterated that the Arbitral Award and the 1982 UNCLOS are the twin anchors of policy and actions of the Philippines on the West Philippine Sea.

She said that while the Philippines remains committed to efforts within ASEAN to resolve the South China Sea disputes, it is taking note of the growing list of countries supporting the Award.

Undersecretary Lazaro expressed hope that the new EAS Plan of Action (2023-2027), which is still undergoing negotiations, will continue the momentum of identifying concrete ways to address pressing regional and global challenges, such as public health emergencies, climate change, and emerging opportunities in digital technologies, among the new generation of issues.

She also announced the Philippine hosting of the EAS Workshop on Maritime Cooperation in Manila in September, underscoring that “Maritime cooperation will remain at the heart of Philippine initiatives in the East Asia Summit.”

As country coordinator for ASEAN-European Union (EU) Dialogue Relations, Undersecretary Lazaro co-chaired the Post-Ministerial Conference with the EU. The Meeting adopted the Plan of Action to Implement the ASEAN-EU Strategic Partnership (2023-2027) and approved the convening of the ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit on 14 December 2022 in Brussels to mark 45 years of ASEAN-EU Dialogue Relations.

She also delivered ASEAN’s Common Statement on ASEAN-EU Dialogue Relations, which highlighted cooperation in cybersecurity, maritime security, trade, connectivity, COVID-19 pandemic response and post-pandemic recovery, environmental protection, and addressing climate change.

During the 29th ARF, Undersecretary Lazaro highlighted the importance of the forum as a platform for dynamic cooperation on global issues. END