President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. expects Australia to play a major role in ensuring peace and stability as well as economic development in Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific region.
In his intervention Thursday during the 4th ASEAN-Australia Summit in Vientiane, Lao PDR, the President said the Philippines welcomes Australia’s continued support through programs and initiatives that recognize each country’s needs to promote the economic welfare of the region.
“Let us continue to move forward,” the President said, underscoring the 50 years of relations between ASEAN and Australia.
President Marcos said the Philippines encourages Australia to maintain the momentum of the Summit through continued support to the Maritime Security and Cooperation. He thanked Australia for its consistent support for the rule of law, the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 1982, and the 2016 Arbitral Award and also through capacity-building and academic initiatives.
On the economic front, President Marcos welcomed the launch of the Australian Regional Trade for Development (RT4D) Facility, an initiative focused on supporting ASEAN Member States from two regional Free Trade Agreements (FTA), particularly the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA).
On ensuring sea sustainability, he said the Philippines encourages Australia to build initiatives to mitigate marine pollution particularly by reducing plastic wastes and promoting sustainable fisheries management.
“On Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Health and Environment, we look forward to Australia to continue its support for the ASEAN Centres of Excellence, specifically, the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) and the ASEAN Centre for Climate Change (ACCC),” the President said.
President Marcos also delved on health cooperation, saying the Philippines appreciates Australia’s continued support to establish and operationalize the ASEAN One Health Network, as well as the implementation of the ASEAN One Health Joint Plan of Action.
Regarding ASEAN-Australia socio-cultural ties, the President expressed gratitude to Australia for sustained cooperation in education, sports, arts, and cultural exchange programs through the Aus4ASEAN Scholarships, the Aus4ASEAN Digital Transformation and Future Skills Initiative, Australia Awards, and programs run by the ASEAN-Australia Council and the New Colombo Plan. PND
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