Marcos calls for restraint, respect for law at summit

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Monday underscored the importance of upholding international law and strengthening regional cooperation as he addressed world leaders during the 13th ASEAN-US Summit and the 20" East Asia Summit.

- Chloe Mari A. Hufana

At the ASEAN-US Summit, Mr. Marcos reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to deepen ties with Washington and other regional partners, describing the ASEAN-US Joint Vision Statement as a roadmap for advancing cooperation consistent with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.

The summit, co-chaired by US President Donald J. Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, focused on deepening security and economic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.

Mr. Marcos expressed concern over continuing incidents in the South China Sea that “endanger the lives of Philippine personnel and compromise the safety of vessels and aircraft.”