President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said his participation in the 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit was productive as he took part in 12 leaders-level meetings.

In his post-summit report, Marcos said he participated in 12 leaders’-level meetings, including with Australia, Canada, China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the United States, and the United Nations.

The President also said he had "robust and very productive" bilateral meetings with the leaders of Cambodia, Canada, Cook Islands, India, the Republic of Korea, Vietnam,and with the President of the World Bank Group.

"[W]e had a robust and candid and very productive discussion," he said.

In his leaders'-level meetings, Marcos said he was able to promote and highlight key interests in ASEAN, such as food and energy security, migrant workers protection, climate change, and digital transformation.

These issues, he said, "are of strategic importance to the Philippines."

ASEAN remains challenged over peace, security

The Chief Executive also shared his takeaway from the regional summit, saying the ASEAN remains challenged in promoting peace, security, stability, and prosperity in the region.

"The 43rd ASEAN Summit and Related Summits demonstrated that countries around the region are committed to regional cooperation and multilateralism, but remain challenged in promoting peace, security, stability, and prosperity in the region," he said.

“Fellow ASEAN Member States and some external partners highlighted the importance of a rules-based international order. They also maintain that ASEAN is a competitive and integrated regional economy, underpinned by the principle of Centrality,” he added.

The President also joined the ASEAN Plus Three Summit with ASEAN Member States, China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, discussing areas of cooperation such as food security, climate change, and digital economy, among others.

In the East Asia Summit that Marcos attended, broad strategic, political, and economic issues of common interest and concern were tackled.

“We discussed regional and international issues, during which I emphasized the importance of a rules-based international order, especially in the disputes in the South China Sea, inasmuch as they affect not only our nation but also the entire region,” he reported.

“I reaffirmed that the Philippines is committed to the peaceful resolution of disputes and called on all countries to continue upholding freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS.”

The President urged all parties during the meeting to exercise self-restraint and refrain from unilateral and assertive activities that could increase tensions, and lead to misunderstandings and miscalculations in the South China Sea.

Other significant regional and global issues including the situation in Myanmar, the de-nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and the conflict in Ukraine were also discussed.

On the sidelines of the summit, the President held informal talks with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and US Vice President Kamala Harris on strengthening cooperation in key areas of mutual interest.

Marcos also witnessed the signing of the Philippines-Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which demonstrates the shared commitment of both countries to their mutual economic growth and development.

He also met with top executives of select Indonesian companies wanting to expand their presence in the Philippines, noting he is coming home with $22 million in investment commitments in areas crucial for economic recovery efforts such as agriculture and the digital economy.

Marcos concluded his ASEAN Summit participation and will return to the country on Thursday night.