00:00Distinct pleasure to welcome you all in Manila.
00:04Building on the momentum of the Philippine ASEAN chairship
00:07since our initial meetings in January in Cebu,
00:11it is my hope that our discussions in the coming days
00:14will allow us to forge the concrete outcomes
00:17we need to bring forward and elevate to our leaders in November.
00:22There is a profound urgency to our work,
00:25especially as we live in a time defined
00:28but what I call the three U's,
00:31upheaval, uncertainty, and unpredictability.
00:35As developments around the world continue
00:37to strain global peace, security, and stability,
00:42it is highly fitting to recall our theme for this year,
00:46navigating our future together.
00:48When we speak of navigating,
00:51we are speaking of wayfinding.
00:53True wayfinding does not rely on static maps of the past.
00:59It demands that we read the shifting currents of today
01:04to plot a safe course for tomorrow.
01:07It represents our commitment to active,
01:10deliberate problem-solving,
01:13seeking creative solutions and viable pathways
01:16even in the most difficult situations
01:19and during the most complex discussions.
01:23We do not just drift with the tide,
01:26we steer the ship.
01:28As we chart the course,
01:30our most reliable anchor remains
01:32the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia,
01:36otherwise known as the TAC.
01:38Marking its historic 50th anniversary this year,
01:42we honor the fundamental principles
01:44we have successfully guided ASEAN for five decades.
01:49Mutual respect for sovereignty,
01:52non-interference,
01:53and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
01:55These time-tested norms
01:57remain the bedrock of our regional stability,
02:01ensuring our code of conduct
02:03that stands strong against shifting global winds.
02:08We must continue this journey together
02:11because cooperation is no longer a choice,
02:14it is a strategic necessity.
02:16In a fractured global landscape,
02:19no single nation can weather these storms alone.
02:24Our strength and resilience lie in our community.
02:29Acting together,
02:30it is our shield against external pressures
02:32and our engine for regional stability.
02:35If we do not move forward as one,
02:38we risk being pulled apart.
02:41And finally,
02:42this is about our future
02:44because we hold the ultimate responsibility
02:47to define the destiny of our peoples.
02:50Almost six decades ago,
02:53it took a historic leap of faith
02:55for our founding fathers
02:57to establish ASEAN.
02:59That faith has been resoundingly validated
03:02as we have grown into a vibrant community
03:05of 11 nations.
03:07Today,
03:08the future is not something
03:10that simply happens to us.
03:12It is a space
03:13we must consciously design,
03:16ensuring a region
03:17that remains prosperous,
03:19secure,
03:20and centered
03:21and the inspirations
03:23centered on the inspirations
03:25of our peoples.
03:26Without a doubt,
03:28the work before us
03:29in the coming days
03:30will be highly consequential.
03:32To deliver on the immense responsibility
03:35our discussions demand,
03:37our utmost openness,
03:39flexibility,
03:40and principled dialogue.
03:42Excellencies,
03:43the future of our region
03:45will be shaped
03:46by the choices
03:47as we make here this week.
03:49Let us navigate
03:50these challenges together
03:51with clarity,
03:53courage,
03:54and shared resolve.
03:56Maraming salamat po.
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