By Alexis Romero
MANILA, Philippines - President Duterte emphasized the need for unity and the importance of the rule of law as the Philippines kicked off yesterday its hosting of this year’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit.
Duterte said while the regional bloc has achieved gains in improving people’s lives and promoting development in the last 50 years, it has to continue working together to address the challenges it is facing.
“We have established among ourselves good neighborliness that allows for secure and stable relations… We see the very same resolve to work together for a world that recognizes interconnectedness and respect for the sovereign independence. This is one of the important lessons that ASEAN can hold to the Asia-Pacific region and our world,” the President said during the ASEAN 2017 launch in Davao City.
“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. 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,” Duterte said.
Without mentioning the South China Sea dispute, Duterte said the Philippines’ priorities for this year include working for regional peace and stability and pursuing maritime security and cooperation.
“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,” Duterte said.
“This is a tremendous task but one that is not unachievable,” he added.
Read the full story at The Philippine Star