PH Highlights its Maritime Priorities and Commitments at the 6th Indian Ocean Conference
DHAKA, 14 May 2023 – The Philippines, represented by Assistant Secretary Paul Vincent Uy of the Office of International Economic Relations of the Department of Foreign Affairs, and Philippine Ambassador to Bangladesh Leo Tito Ausan, Jr., participated in the recently concluded 6th Indian Ocean Conference (IOC 2023) held at the Hotel Intercontinental-Dhaka from 12 to 13 May 2023.
Assistant Secretary Uy served as one of the speakers in the fourth plenary session of the Conference, which also included as speakers the United States Deputy Assistant Secretary and the heads of regional organizations such as the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), and D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation. During his presentation, Assistant Secretary Uy highlighted the Philippines’ priorities and commitments in the maritime space and stated that the conference’s theme, “Peace, Prosperity and Partnership for a Resilient Future,” resonates deeply with the government and people of the Philippines.
He shared some of the Philippines’ actions in terms of addressing biodiversity loss and depletion of fisheries and other non-traditional threats, ensuring food security, protecting marine environments, and sustainably using marine resources. The Philippines, he underscored, aligns itself with the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and recognizes ASEAN centrality as the underlying principle to promote cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
Further, he stated that as a member of the ASEAN, the Philippines upholds the primacy of international maritime law, especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), in the management and resolution of marine disputes and facilitation of cooperative action to promote maritime safety and security and to protect marine environments.
Assistant Secretary Uy reiterated the Philippines’ readiness to enhance and forge stronger and more effective partnerships in the region to address common challenges to ensure oceans remain zones of peace and prosperity now and in the future. END
For more information, visit https://www.dhakape.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinBangladesh/.