JAKARTA, Indonesia — President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has reaffirmed the Philippines' commitment to working with and establishing deeper ties with Southeast Asian nations and the United States of America (USA) towards a sustainable and peaceful region.

Marcos said this during the 11th Association of Southeast Asian Nations-US (ASEAN-US) Summit here on Wednesday, Sept. 6.

In his intervention, the President said the Philippines will continue to work together with the US and other ASEAN member states to ensure and achieve regional peace and progress.

“As we forge closer and deeper relationships in the coming years, we hope to continue working together towards a region that enjoys lasting peace, security, stability, and resilience,” President Marcos said in his intervention.

Marcos called the US an "undeniable partner" as he highlighted the US government's various efforts to support the region in achieving its goals.

“The United States of America is more than just a longstanding, close, and reliable friend, and ally of the Philippines. The US is also undeniably ASEAN’s partner in achieving our collective goals and aspirations as nations, both on the domestic and on the international fronts,” he said.

These efforts included the US' support for ASEAN Centrality and principles of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), and The Spirit of Camp David, a joint statement that Marcos said cemented a common security agenda among the United States, Japan, and South Korea, on arguably the most problematic issues in the region.

"Issues that undermine regional peace and prosperity, including but not limited to supporting the free and open international order based on the rule of law,” he said.

President Marcos also welcomed the trilateral maritime exercises conducted among the Coast Guards of the Philippines, Japan, and the US aimed at strengthening humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) cooperation.

Boost ties

Meanwhile, Marcos encouraged ASEAN members to leverage their partnerships with the US, more notably in enhancing connectivity and supply chains through the implementation of the ASEAN-US Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement (TIFA) and the Expanded Economic Engagement (E3) Work.

He noted how the US economic might in the region has been a positive force, with the US remaining the biggest source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) with a market share of 22.5 percent.

Apart from peace and trade cooperation, the ASEAN and the US also continue their partnership in education and youth and women empowerment, such as the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI); the Billion Futures Scholars framework; the Fulbright US - ASEAN Visiting Scholar; the ASEAN-US Science Prize for Women; as well as the ASEAN Youth Volunteer Program, among others.

The President also noted the first year of the US-ASEAN Institute for Rising Leaders program, which allows 30 mid-career public service professionals to join the John Hopkins SAIS leadership development program.

“The US has always been an ally and an indispensable partner of ASEAN,” Marcos said.