Marcos back in Philippines after ASEAN Summit in Jakarta

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has arrived in the country following his attendance in the ASEAN and related summits in Jakarta.

According to Ivan Mayrina of GMA Integrated News, Marcos and his party landed at 12:37 a.m.

In a statement before leaving Jakarta, Marcos said he participated in 12 leaders' meetings. These included those with  Australia, Canada, China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the United States, and the United Nations. 

“In these meetings, I promoted and highlighted key interests in ASEAN, such as food and energy security, migrant workers protection, climate change, and digital transformation, issues that are of strategic importance to the Philippines,” Marcos said.

“Fellow ASEAN member-states and some external partners highlighted the importance of a rules-based international order. They also maintain that ASEAN is a competitive and integrated regional economy, underpinned by the principle of centrality," he added. 

Marcos also joined the ASEAN Plus Three Summit with ASEAN member-states, China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea to discuss areas of cooperation such as food security, climate change, and digital economy, among others.

He also attended the East Asia Summit, where broad strategic, political, and economic issues of common interest and concern were taken up

 “We discussed regional and international issues, during which I emphasized the importance of a rules-based international order, especially in the disputes in the South China Sea, inasmuch as they affect not only our nation but also the entire region,” Marcos said.
 
“I reaffirmed that the Philippines is committed to the peaceful resolution of disputes and called on all countries to continue upholding freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS.”

Marcos called on all parties to refrain from "unilateral and assertive activities" that could raise current tensions and lead to "misunderstandings and miscalculations" in the South China Sea.

During the meeting, the leaders also discussed the situation in Myanmar, the conflict in Ukraine and the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Marcos held informal talks on the summit's sidelines with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and US Vice President Kamala Harris on strengthening cooperation in key areas of mutual interest.

The President had productive discussions during bilateral meetings with the leaders of Cambodia, Canada, the Cook Islands, India, the Republic of Korea, and Viet Nam, as well as with the President of the World Bank Group.
 
He witnessed the signing of the Philippines-Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA) aimed at shoring up the economic growth and development of the two nations.

“The FTA will strengthen our bilateral trade and investment relations with the 
Republic of Korea, especially as it generates jobs and contributes to the Philippines’ value proposition as an ideal regional hub for smart and sustainable investments,” Marcos said.

“The signing of the FTA is a testament to the realization of the many opportunities for complementation and collaboration between the Philippines and South Korea, and an even greater milestone for our economic partnership," he added.

Marcos also met with top executives of select Indonesian companies eyeing to expand their presence in the Philippines. 

He touted returning to the Philippines with US$22 million in investment commitments in areas crucial for economic recovery efforts such as agriculture and the digital economy.

The President also said he was pleased to announce the Philippines’ hosting of ASEAN in 2026, instead of 2027. —NB, GMA Integrated News