PH to boost ties with partners

VIENTIANE, Laos — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the Philippines would further strengthen engagement with its partners to ensure a rules-based international order in the region. In his speech during the plenary session of the 44th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit here on Wednesday, Marcos stressed the importance of fully harnessing the regional bloc's external relationships, which play a pivotal role in enriching Asean community-building. "We will continuously strengthen our engagement with our external partners to reinforce Asean Centrality, promote mutual trust, and uphold a rules-based international order that safeguards peace, stability, security and prosperity for all," he said. The President called on his fellow Asean leaders to boost the connectivity and resilience in the region by confronting other complex challenges ahead. "Asean's prospects remain robust. Growth in our region is outpacing global forecasts, thanks to the dynamic strength of our region and the steps we have undertaken under the stewardship of Lao PDR this year to enhance our connectivity and our resilience," he said. "This success should inspire us to tackle — to continue to tackle the other complex challenges ahead." Marcos said the Philippines should continue to deepen connectivity and fortify its resilience "to ensure that we are prepared for emerging challenges and for future shocks." His call comes as tension continues in the South China Sea with Beijing aggressively claiming almost all of the South China Sea, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei.