(Eagle News) – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte launched the Philippine chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in all “humility,” saying that the Philippines will continue to remain steadfast in upholding the ASEAN ideals and values as ASEAN chair.
“I say to you today in full humility: the Philippines — as ASEAN chair — will remain steadfast in upholding the ideals and values we hold dear and in working for the realization of our shared aspirations,” he said.
“We are committed to the building of a strong and resilient ASEAN community,” he said.
The theme for this year’s summit was “Partnering for Change, Engaging the World” which was earlier announced by President Duterte at the close of the ASEAN Summit last year in Laos.
In the grand launch on January 15 that was witnessed by the ambassadors of the ASEAN-member states in Davao City, President Duterte assured the audience that the Philippines will remember the lessons learned by the ASEAN region.
“I am truly honored and humbled as we launch the Philippines’ chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN. It is a landmark in ASEAN’s continuing positive narrative,” he said. “It is an event to renew the enduring ties that bind us all as ASEAN member-states.”
Duterte: “We are in this journey together”
The President reminded everybody that “we are in this journey together,” and called on all Filipinos “to take an active and constructive part during the Philippines’ chairmanship of ASEAN.”
“Now, more than ever, it is our spirit of “bayanihan” that has helped define us as a responsible leader of our region during this crucial time.”
“This is a golden opportunity for all to work for an ASEAN that has taken its firm and secure place in the community of nations: An ASEAN that has its own significant role in effecting positive change for our world,” he said.
“Let us all work hand-in-hand to make this vision a reality enjoyed by all.”
Duterte said that the ASEAN member nations, 50 years after the regional bloc was established in 1967, have changed for the better.
He said lives had been improved, and that ASEAN member states have “established amongst ourselves good neighborliness that allow for secure and stable relations.”
He said that in in the past seven months of his presidency, he has had the privilege of visiting “our brothers and sisters in the region.”
“The warmth of the reception and the undeniable connections we encountered speak well of the inroads we have achieved since 1967 when the representatives declared the establishment of the Association as a demonstration of the collective will of the nations of Southeast Asia bind together in friendship and cooperation and, through joint efforts and sacrifices, secure for their peoples and for posterity the blessings of peace, freedom and prosperity,” the President said.
Duterte, who has visited almost all of the ASEAN member states last year, said that the ASEAN member nations have expressed “our shared determination to ensure stability and security from external interference in any form or manifestation in order to preserve our national identities.”
Since coming to office in June, Duterte has visited eight of the nine other ASEAN states – Laos, where he was for the ASEAN Summit, along with Indonesia, Brunei, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia and Singapore.
-Lessons learned to be remembered-
“We also see in ourselves the very same burning desire to move forward together based on shared values. We see the very same resolve to work together for a world that recognizes interconnectedness and respects for the sovereign independence,” he said.
The Philippine president said “This is one of the important lessons that ASEAN can hold to the Asia-Pacific region and our world.”
“But we too have learned many lessons. One of them is that the unity and cooperation that have defined ASEAN over the last five decades will be crucial to our collective success,” Duterte said.
“We realize that, in truth, there is still a lot of hard work to be done for true transformation that will benefit our peoples in the region,” he added.
The ASEAN launch was also attended by former Philippine presidents Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Fidel Ramos, as well as by Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr., and other members of the Duterte cabinet.
“Today in Davao City let us renew the solemn pledge to do all we can for the very core of our national and regional interests: our peoples,” Duterte said.
“For an ASEAN citizen, the ASEAN community must provide opportunities for a truly better life,” he explained.
He said particular attention will also be directed to the sub-regional mechanisms of the ASEAN, including the BIMP-EAGA or the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area which was launched in 1994.
-Priorities defined-
He also detained the priorities of the Philippines as ASEAN chair.
“In our work, we will be guided by the following priorities: We will place our peoples at the core; work for regional peace and stability; pursue maritime security and cooperation; advance inclusive, innovation-led growth; strengthen ASEAN resiliency; and promote ASEAN as a model of regionalism and as a global player,” he said.
“This is a tremendous task but one that is not unachievable,” the President added.
