Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo on Tuesday called on his fellow foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to continue advancing their collective agenda in the international community.
In his remark during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting in Indonesia, Manalo made the appeal as he feared for ASEAN becoming "a victim of our own success and become overburdened."
Photo courtesy of ASEAN 2023
Currently, he said, the whole world sees the regional bloc with "increased interest," which proves that "ASEAN does matter."
"But I think the other question we have to ask is, 'What should we make of this greater interest in ASEAN?'" Manalo asked.
The ASEAN Centrality has been the bloc's guide in its engagements with the world. But now, it is "being tested in unprecedented ways" as the challenges that the 10-member group faces "are certainly complex and more interconnected than ever."
"We must channel this greater interest into high-quality engagements, with a robust agenda that puts ASEAN’s profile and interests front and center," he said.
"Likewise, our engagement with external partners in the East Asia Summit, as well as in other ASEAN-led mechanisms, should aim at supporting ASEAN initiatives and complement ASEAN Community-building efforts," he added.
Manalo said "practical cooperation activities" should be adopted and implemented, with ASEAN "real interests" and readiness for such be considered.
"As we seek ways to reinforce our Centrality, I think it's important that we seek ways on how to project our Centrality outward," he said.
"We need to ask how ASEAN can matter not just to our circle of ten, soon to be eleven, but to the larger region and the world," he added.