PH Pushed for Regional Cooperation on Maritime Security, Climate, Post-Pandemic Economic Recovery at ASEAN-US Special Summit
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. (L) joins ASEAN and US government leaders during day two of the ASEAN-US Special Summit in Washington D.C. (R) held on 12-13 May 2022 (Photos from Washington DC PE)
WASHINGTON D.C. 16 May 2022 – The Philippines, represented by Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr., called for regional cooperation on maritime security, the climate crisis, and post-pandemic economic recovery during the second day of the ASEAN-US Special Summit on 13 May 2022. The second day of the Summit featured a working lunch hosted by U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, and plenary sessions chaired by both President Joseph Biden. Jr. and VP Harris.
The Secretary joined eight other leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in discussing mutual priorities in the region on maritime security, pandemics, climate action, clean energy transformation, and sustainable infrastructure, as well as on ways to address global issues and emerging challenges.
Secretary Locsin highlighted America’s role for peace and stability in Southeast Asia and welcomed the U.S. Indo-Pacific Strategy as it places Southeast Asia at the center of the regional security architecture and recognizes synergies with the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific.
“President Biden, your participation gives substance to the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment of being a strong, reliable and dependably present partner in the region; and of America as a force for good and stability in Asia and the rest of the world. That is why the Philippines fully supports the elevation of ASEAN-U.S. relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” he said.
Secretary Locsin stressed that integral to the response to the climate crisis is the transition to clean energy and mentioned that the Philippines expects the ASEAN-US Energy Ministerial Meeting to advance initiatives on clean and alternative energy sources, including new and emerging clean fuels, and on energy innovation and more efficient energy technologies.
The Philippines also welcomed the progress made on the implementation of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025 and underscored that we need to recover from the pandemic even as we are being hit by the economic consequences of the war in Ukraine, especially in energy supply.
Discussions of the Plenary Session on climate action, clean energy and sustainable infrastructure was led by Vice President Kamala Harris, together with Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, Secretary of Energy Jenifer Granholm, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan.
Secretary Locsin led the Philippine delegation to the Special Summit, as the representative of President Rodrigo R. Duterte, and was joined by Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel G. Romualdez, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Theresa Lazaro, Assistant Secretary Ed Espiritu, and Assistant Secretary Angela Ponce, as well as officials from the Office of the President and the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C.
For more information, visit https://www.washingtonpe.dfa.gov.ph, www.philippineembassy-usa.org, https://www.facebook.com/PHinUSA, https://www.twitter.com/philippinesusa or https://www.instagram.com/philippinesusa/ END