00:00Foreign Affairs as the lead agency for the ASEAN Political Security Community or the APSE Pillar
00:07will host a series of preparatory meetings.
00:11Later this afternoon, we will already begin with the hosting of the preparatory ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting
00:17marking the third song meeting under the Church of the Philippines.
00:23Tomorrow, we will be conducting a series of ministerial level meetings
00:27including the ASEAN Foreign Minister's Meeting or the AMM,
00:32the ASEAN Political Security Community Council Meeting or the APSE,
00:38the ASEAN Coordinating Council Meeting or the ACC,
00:42and the ASEAN Joint Foreign and Economic Minister's Meeting.
00:48These meetings will be attended by senior officials and foreign ministers of the 11 ASEAN member states
00:55and this will help lay the groundwork for the 48th ASEAN Summit
01:00with discussions focused on pressing regional priorities
01:05and ASEAN's long-term community building agenda in line with the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.
01:13Specifically, under the APSE Pillar,
01:16we are working toward the endorsement of three important outcome documents
01:21for the consideration of the ASEAN leaders.
01:24First, the CEBU Protocol to amend the Charter of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
01:30which will mark the first amendment to the ASEAN Charter since its signing in 2007.
01:37This amendment specifically pertains to Timor-Leste's full integration into the regional bloc,
01:44reflecting ASEAN's continued institutional strengthening.
01:49Second, the ASEAN leaders' declaration on maritime cooperation,
01:55which underscores the region's commitment to advancing maritime cooperation
01:59through concrete initiatives such as the inclusion of the ASEAN Coast Guard Forum
02:04as an ASEAN sectoral body
02:06and the proposed establishment of an ASEAN maritime center in the Philippines.
02:12And third, the ASEAN leaders' statement on the response to the Middle East crisis,
02:18which emanates from the two ASEAN foreign ministers' meetings
02:22convened by the Philippines in response to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East back in March
02:28and just recently in April.
02:30The leaders' statement outlines ASEAN's collective response to the crisis
02:34while building the foundations for stronger coordination and future emergencies.
02:41While leaders focus on these three important priorities during the 48th ASEAN Summit,
02:47which are energy security, food security, and the safety and protection of ASEAN nationals,
02:53the Philippines, as chair, will continue to advance the country's key priorities and deliverables
03:00anchored on the theme navigating our future together in the preparatory meetings.
03:07This includes the preparations for the commemorative activity of the 50th anniversary
03:12of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia,
03:16the continued integration of Timor-Leste,
03:19the latest developments in Myanmar,
03:22with the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Maria Teresa P. Lazaro,
03:26as the Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair.
03:29At a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty and evolving regional challenges,
03:34the Philippines underscores the importance of bolstering the region's strategic autonomy
03:39guided by ASEAN centrality, enhancing our coordination as a community of nations,
03:45and reaffirming our resolve to the longstanding principles of international law.
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