Marcos: PH to pursue cooperation with Asean partners to address present challenges

VIENTIANE, Laos — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he would pursue cooperation with partners in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to address present challenges in the region and the world.

Addressing the Filipino community here on Tuesday night ahead of the summit, Marcos said he planned to advance the Philippines' national interests such as maintaining peace and security in the region, strengthening the economy.

«The world and our region are facing challenging times. From conflicts in Europe to the Middle East, to global existential threats such as climate change and natural and man-made disasters, to transnational crime and economic downturns – all these, in one way or another, affect the lives and livelihoods of peace-loving and hardworking people like yourselves,» Marcos said.

«So, my participation and that of the Philippines in the Asean meetings is precisely to find ways to cooperate with partners to better meet the challenges of today, to forge a better future for our beloved Philippines,» he added.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said that the issue of human trafficking was expected to be discussed during the Asean Summit.

Laos is part of the «golden triangle» — along with parts of Myanmar and Thailand — which has become notorious for illegal drug trade and human trafficking.

«Human trafficking is a common concern within Asean because it now impacts not only in the Philippines but on many of its members,» Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Daniel Espirutu said in an earlier briefing.

Meanwhile, Marcos, in his scheduled attendance to the Asean Business and Investment Summit, said he would encourage them to explore the promising economic opportunities in the Philippines.

With the country being one of the most dynamic and best performing economies in Asia, Marcos assured businessmen his administration would continue to work hard to sustain this upward trajectory.

He said the administration was doing all it could to bring a brighter future for all Filipinos so that no Filipino would leave to seek greener pastures abroad.

The President also thanked the Filipino community in Laos for their contributions, praising their