00:00Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, good morning.
00:03It is my distinct pleasure to welcome you back to Manila for the ASEAN Foreign Minister's Meeting,
00:10our concluding meeting during the Philippines' chairship this year.
00:14Allow me to welcome Indonesian Foreign Minister, His Excellency Armanata Masir, to our ASEAN family.
00:22Excellency, we look forward to closely working with you in advancing our shared priorities for ASEAN.
00:28Excellencies, as we convened for the last ASEAN Foreign Minister's Meeting under the Philippine Chairship,
00:35we do so with much to reflect on, much to take pride of, and much work that remains before us.
00:42Our experience this year has reaffirmed that regional cooperation cannot be measured solely by the meetings we convene
00:50or the documents that we adopt.
00:52The true measure lies in our ability to translate dialogue into coordinated action,
00:57address shared concerns, and deliver tangible benefits to our peoples.
01:03Under the ASEAN Political Security Community Pillar,
01:06we started this year with the Philippines' Strategic Priorities Code Lead ASEAN Framework.
01:12Throughout this year, we have worked hard to shepherd ASEAN's collective efforts
01:17to maintain peace and security through norms and dialogue,
01:20enhance regional security and promote resilience against emerging threats,
01:25advance maritime security and cooperation,
01:29bolster regional disaster preparedness, and climate security.
01:33We have advanced cooperation in the maritime domain,
01:36strengthened regional dialogue, and continued efforts to reinforce ASEAN's resilience
01:41in the face of emerging and transboundary challenges.
01:44We have also worked to strengthen ASEAN's engagement with our external partners,
01:50preserving the region's position as a credible and indispensable platform for dialogue and cooperation.
01:57The commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia,
02:04or we call TAC, likewise, offered an important opportunity to reaffirm our principles
02:11that have sustained our regional community in almost six decades.
02:16This year, not only did we commemorate the TAC,
02:20but we worked towards the operationalization with the adoption of the guidelines
02:25on the modalities for engagement of ASEAN with high contracting parties.
02:30Right now, there are about 62 high contracting parties,
02:33and we welcome four new high contracting parties to the TAC.
02:40We welcomed them, rather, for last July,
02:42and we look forward to welcoming another three acceding countries
02:46to the signing ceremony later this afternoon.
02:49Our progress this year has likewise been reflected
02:52in the continued expansion and deepening of ASEAN's external relations.
02:57Perhaps most evident was the demonstration of ASEAN's unique convening power
03:03during the 59th ASEAN Foreign Minister's PMC and related meetings
03:08in the inaugural high-level conference of HCPs, high contracting parties, last July.
03:14Notably, we have confirmed sectoral dialogue partnership status
03:18to Qatar and Germany, reflecting ASEAN's continued efforts
03:22to broaden and deepen its engagement with external partners.
03:26We also welcomed Turkey as ASEAN's 12th dialogue partner in the UK
03:32as the 28th ARF or ASEAN Regional Forum participant.
03:37The adoption of the ARF Manila Plan of Action for 26-36 in July, last July,
03:45also opens a new chapter in regional cooperation,
03:48strengthening dialogue, confidence-building, and preventive diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific.
03:54Following the conclusion of its negotiations this year,
03:58our ASEAN economic ministers are also in the cusp of signing
04:01the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement,
04:05the world's first region-wide digital economy pact,
04:09by helping facilitate cross-border e-commerce.
04:12A common rule on data and digital payments is a smoother path for small businesses
04:20to sell beyond their home markets.
04:23The DEFA, or the Digitalization Framework,
04:25allows us to scale up our regional digital economy.
04:29Despite these achievements, the Philippines' chairship was not without its challenges.
04:34While we assume ASEAN chair this year, we set sail with a clear course, anchored on our priorities.
04:42Yet, as with any ship sailing through unpredictable waters,
04:46the year brought unprecedented headwinds,
04:49particularly the unfolding crisis in the Middle East,
04:52the natural calamities that besiege our nations,
04:55and uncertainties that tested the norms of multilateralism.
04:59As ASEAN chair, we had to wade through tumultuous waves,
05:03weather turbulent winds, and ultimately steer through shifting currents.
05:10Despite this, we remained steadfast, pivoting our course as the rough tides demanded,
05:17relentless in our pursuit of advancing ASEAN's shared agenda.
05:22Colleagues, these are quintessential gains,
05:25but we must also be clear-eyed about the work ahead.
05:28A chairship may pass from one member state to another,
05:33but our collective resolve and fundamental responsibility to ASEAN must remain constant.
05:39The Philippines is grateful to the trust, enduring cooperation,
05:43and partnership of all ASEAN member states throughout our chairship.
05:47The progress we have made is a collective achievement,
05:50and the work that remains is a collective undertaking.
05:53I look forward to our discussions today and the continued efforts to advance the peace,
05:59stability, and prosperity that our peoples deserve.
06:02Thank you very much.
06:03And before I proceed, may I invite the members of the media to enjoy some coffee and snacks outside.
