'Will pursue robust collaboration with India' says Philippines president Marcos jr, makes case for peace in region

SINGAPORE: Philippines president Marcos Jr became the first Philippine leader to deliver the keynote address to open the 21st edition of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue in Manila on Saturday. In his address, Marcos Jr said that the commitment of the Philippines to Asean Centrality shall remain a "core element" of its foreign policy.
Marcos Jr also described India as a friend and said that Manila would continue to pursue collaboration with New Delhi.
He said, "We shall strengthen our alliance with the United States and our strategic partnerships with Australia, Japan, Vietnam, Brunei, and all the other member states of Asean."
He also declared continued strategic partnerships with other nations and wished to make more future collaborations and cooperations, not only in defence but also in environmental, economic, people-to-people relations, and sustainable development.

"In all our multilateral engagements, we seek to bridge global conversations with our unique regional perspectives," the President said.
"We will also pursue more robust collaboration with friends such as the Republic of Korea and India, amongst others," he added.
"Geopolitics must not distract us from our fundamental duty as civil servants, as public intellectuals, as statesmen: To deliver for our peoples and to safeguard the future for the coming generations. This is the reason why we strive for stability, security, and peace," he further said.

He stated that the maintenance of peace and stability in the Indian Ocean region will directly impact the development of South Asian states.
"In the same vein, the economic security of East Asia depends upon the freedom of navigation and unimpeded passage in the South China Sea and the East China Sea and the stability of the Korean Peninsula and the Taiwan Strait. By virtue of geographic proximity and the presence of Filipinos in Taiwan, we have a legitimate interest in cross-Strait issues," Marcos Jr stated.
"The Filipino people have a long history of fraternal bonds with the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. Peace and stability must prevail. Therefore, we continue to urge all parties to exercise restraint