Secretary Manalo Advances PH Strategic Priorities in Week-long ASEAN FM Meetings
JAKARTA 15 July 2023 — Secretary for Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo highlighted Philippine strategic priorities in ASEAN, such as maritime security and cooperation, the Philippine candidature to the UN Security Council, countering trafficking in persons, and ASEAN Centrality, among others during a week-long 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and Related Meetings held in Jakarta, Indonesia.
“The (ASEAN) Chair’s priorities and deliverables under the theme ‘ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth’ resonates with the Philippines, from maritime cooperation and combating trafficking in persons, to the welfare of migrants and fostering the creative and digital economy,” Secretary Manalo said during the 56th AMM.
During the Foreign Ministers-level meetings among ASEAN and with external partners on 11-14 July 2023, including in the 30th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), 13th East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, and meetings with Dialogue Partners, Secretary Manalo reiterated that the 1982 UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award remain the twin anchors of the Philippines’ policy in the South China Sea.
Secretary Manalo also thanked ASEAN’s partners that have supported the Arbitral Award, which marked its 7th anniversary on 12 July 2023.
At the 55th AMM Plenary Session, Secretary Manalo said engagements with external partners should always be in support of ASEAN’s initiatives and complement ASEAN in its Community-building efforts.
Secretary Manalo noted ASEAN’s deepening and widening engagement with its partners, as shown by the growing number of countries wanting to accede to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC). On 12 July 2023, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia acceded to the TAC.
On the economic front, ASEAN noted the entry into force of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement signed in 2022 by ASEAN Member States, as well as China, Republic of Korea, Japan, India, Australia and New Zealand in 2022.
During their Retreat session, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers exchanged views on the situation in Myanmar. Secretary Manalo said any initiative to address the crisis should be in accordance with the Five-Point Consensus and supportive of the efforts of the ASEAN Chair, including the work of the Special Envoy. This view was shared by the ASEAN Member States and was reflected in the meeting’s Joint Communiqué.
During the 13th EAS, he called on ASEAN's partners to steadfastly support the ASEAN-led regional architecture, the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, and the rules-based order anchored in international law.
During the 24th ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Secretary Manalo said ASEAN remains a bright spot in the global economy, fueled by ASEAN Centrality and offering promising prospects as an Epicentrum of Growth.
“To capitalize on this, the APT should express greater resolve and confidence in further strengthening and deepening East Asia cooperation in food and energy security, maritime cooperation, connectivity, sustainable development, and the digital domain, Secretary Manalo added.
ASEAN held Post Ministerial Conferences (PMCs) where the ASEAN Foreign Ministers met with each of ASEAN’s 11 Dialogue Partners, namely: Australia, Canada, China, European Union (EU), India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia, United Kingdom, and United States.
Secretary Manalo co-chaired with the EU the ASEAN-EU PMC, in the Philippines' capacity as the current country coordinator for ASEAN-EU Dialogue Relations. He delivered the ASEAN-EU Common Statement highlighting more than 45 years of enduring friendship between ASEAN and the EU where the Philippines welcomed EU’s Team Europe plan of putting together an investment package for ASEAN worth EUR 10 billion until 2027.
The Philippines also expressed optimism on the implementation of the ASEAN-EU Plan of Action (2023-2027), as well as expressed appreciation for EU’s support in areas of combating climate change, disaster management, biodiversity conservation, sustainable development, gender equality and women’s empowerment, youth engagement and student exchanges, and migration and education.
“As we reassert and reaffirm our Centrality to collectively manage the increased attention to and engagement with ASEAN, we should have candid conversations with one another, with our partners, and with greater political will,” Secretary Manalo concluded.
At the sidelines of the ASEAN meetings, Secretary Manalo held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Brunei Darussalam, Timor Leste, European Union, New Zealand, Norway, United Kingdom, Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka and with the ASEAN Secretary General. The Secretary also had a trilateral meeting with his counterparts from the United States and Japan. END