ASEAN, EU milestones proof of blocs’ ‘active’ ties

FILE: Dinaluhan ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ang leaders-level plenary session ng ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit, isang pagdiriwang para sa ika-45 na taon ng diplomatikong relasyon sa pagitan ng ASEAN at EU bilang strategic partners. Sa kanyang talumpati, binigyang-diin ng Pangulo ang pagtutulungan ng dalawang organisasyon sa pagtugon sa pagbabago ng klima, pagpapatibay ng kooperasyong pangkaragatan, at pagpapasigla ng ekonomiya ng mga rehiyon. (OPS)

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday (Brussels time) welcomed recent milestones achieved by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU) blocs, citing them as proof of both bloc’s “active” partnership in post-pandemic recovery.

He made this remark in a speech as country coordinator of the 10th ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit in Brussels, Belgium.

Among these milestones, he said, is the adoption of the plan of action to implement the ASEAN-EU Strategic Partnership for 2023-2027 last August.

Under this plan, ASEAN and the EU will pursue cooperation in conformity with their respective member states’ obligations under international law, and in accordance with member states’ domestic laws, regulations and policies.

Marcos also cited the signing of the ASEAN-EU Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement (CATA) in October.

The ASEAN-EU CATA is the world’s first bloc-to-bloc air transport agreement and reflects the latest policy thinking in air transport regulation.

He said both milestones are “clear commitments from both sides, an active partnership for the post-Covid economic recovery of our region.”

Marcos likewise took pride in the Philippines’ role as the coordinator for ASEAN-EU dialogue relations as the two blocs mark 45 years of enduring partnership.

He thanked all the ASEAN and EU member states for their support and cooperation “as we chart new paths to further strengthen our partnership.”

“As coordinator of our relations from 2022 to 2024, I assure you of the Philippines’ continuing efforts to sustain successful and vibrant relations between our regions, and as always the case, we are stronger together than we are alone,” he said.

The Philippines has been the ASEAN-EU country coordinator since 2021 and will stay in that role until 2024.

The 10th ASEAN-EU Business Summit aims to reinforce the existing strong trade and investment relationship between ASEAN and the EU as well as reignite Europe’s interest in Southeast Asia as a region of opportunities.