NEW YORK, USA — "The Philippines shall continue to be a friend to all, and an enemy of none."

As he made his debut on the world stage, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. maintained the Philippines' foreign policy that it is a friend to all countries, a mantra of his predecessor: former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Marcos said this as he delivered the Philippine Statement at the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level General Debate here on Tuesday afternoon, September 20 (New York time).

In his 20-minute speech, the President highlighted the importance of resolving differences through peaceful means. In particular, he cited the Manila Declaration of 1982, a landmark instrument for the peaceful settlement of international disputes.

Marcos said the Philippines is an example of settling disputes through peaceful methods, citing its adherence to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

"By reinforcing the predictability and stability of international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, we provided an example of how states should resolve their differences: through reason and through right," he said.

The President said these two landmark declarations provide helpful guidance for all countries.

"Amidst challenging global tides, an important ballast stabilizes our common vessel. That is our open, inclusive, and rules-based international order that is governed by international law and informed by the principles of equity and of justice," he said.

Marcos was the second speaker in the afternoon session of the 77th UNGA.

Aside from the UNGA, he is in New York to meet the Filipino community and attract investors to achieve his objective of economic transformation.