00:00ASEAN should leverage its cooperation with the Gulf Cooperation Council and China to strengthen
00:06regional energy security. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said this today during the plenary session
00:12of the 48th ASEAN Summit here in Cebu. Against the backdrop of continuing disruptions from the
00:19West Asia crisis, Anwar urged ASEAN to speed up the implementation of the ASEAN framework
00:25on the Petroleum Security Agreement. We must also diversify our fossil fuel sources and reduce
00:33over-dependence on vulnerable supply chains. We must recognize that strategic collaboration
00:41with trusted partners and regional groupings can strengthen ASEAN's long-term energy security.
00:51The call builds on Malaysia's ASEAN chairmanship last year, which saw the first-ever ASEAN GCC
00:57China Summit. No single country can manage these disruptions alone. Our response, therefore,
01:06must be collective, coordinated and forward-looking. Turning to food security, Anwar warned that higher
01:13fuel prices were already driving up fertilizer, transport and production costs, creating immediate
01:20supply pressures across the region. Food security must, therefore, be treated as a regional strategic
01:29priority. I propose that our relevant ministers urgently explore a regional standby regimen for food security
01:39during crisis to ensure faster coordination and emerging response. We should also strengthen the ASEAN
01:48Plus 3 emergency rice reserve mechanism and work with our partners to consider expanding cooperation
01:57transportation, beyond rice reserves to include fertilizer security.
02:03Hanyidro, Cebu, Philippines, FMT
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