President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday said member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have agreed to enhance regional collaboration on sustainable agriculture, food security, and digital transformation.

President Marcos made the remark in his arrival statement following his attendance at the 44th and 45th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summits and Related Summits in Vientiane, Laos.

“We discussed not just the challenges that we face individually but also our shared commitment to finding enduring solutions that will safeguard our collective future,” Marcos said in a pre-recorded video.

“The leaders of ASEAN agreed to work more closely together in promoting sustainable agriculture to achieve long-term food security,” he said.

The President also highlighted the importance of supporting Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through enhanced access to financing and global supply chain integration.

“We are collaborating with our partners to support our MSMEs by addressing financing gaps and enhancing their capacities,” Marcos said.

In line with regional efforts for economic advancement, he mentioned ASEAN’s focus on digital transformation and sustainable and inclusive tourism, stressing that this would benefit the Philippines’ own goals.

“This will complement the Philippines’ initiatives in positioning itself as a prime destination for sustainable tourism,” he said.

Marcos also underscored the Philippines’ role in leading “critical initiatives that are significant to the future of the region, particularly as host of the Loss and Damage Fund Board, which facilitates the flow of climate finance to vulnerable countries.

“The Philippines is privileged to play a strategic role in supporting the flow of climate finance to countries most vulnerable to climate change as well as to advocate for needed support and action on climate resilience,” he said.

In line with climate change mitigation efforts, he announced that the Philippines will host the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction next week.

This gathering, he said, aims to bolster cooperation with other countries in disaster preparedness and response.

Defending Sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea

On the issue of the West Philippine Sea, Marcos reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to upholding its sovereign rights in the contested waters.

“I reaffirm that the Philippines will continue to defend our sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea,” the President said, stressing that all actions will adhere to international law.

“The Philippines is continuing to strengthen its partnerships with all countries who share our values and our commitment to peace and to the rule of law,” he added.

On the sidelines of the summits, the President took the opportunity to hold bilateral talks with various leaders, including from Vietnam, Canada, and New Zealand.

Discussions with Vietnam focused on agricultural cooperation, including signed agreements on rice trade, smart agriculture, research and technology, farm management, and sustainability, Marcos noted.

Marcos, meanwhile, thanked Canada for its support, especially on defense and maritime interests.

He also expressed optimism about the upcoming Team Canada trade mission to the Philippines in December.

President Marcos congratulated Canada’s presidency of the Group of Seven (G7) in 2025, which he earlier said would play a significant role in addressing global challenges and promoting closer cooperation with ASEAN.

Marcos discussed ways to elevate ties with New Zealand in a bilateral meeting, particularly ahead of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2026.

Marcos expressed gratitude to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) for its successful 2024 chairmanship of ASEAN, adding he looks forward to Malaysia assuming the leadership role in 2025.

“Making full use of our schedule while here, I briefly met with the leaders of Lao PDR the EU and Japan and expressed our commitment to further strengthen bilateral relations,” he said.

ASEAN is composed of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. (PNA)