KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia—President Marcos emphasized that the partnership between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United Nations should lead to the improvement of the lives of ordinary people in the region.

During the 15th ASEAN-UN Summit on Monday, Oct. 27, Marcos advocated for a development agenda “that leaves no one behind,” underscoring the enhanced coordination across ASEAN and UN bodies in advancing inclusive and sustainable progress.

“For the true measure of our partnership lies not only in words, but in the progress we secure for our peoples,” Marcos said in his intervention during the summit.

“As we chart the course ahead, ASEAN and the United Nations must rally behind a development agenda that leaves no one behind and upholds dignity for all,” Marcos added.

The President stressed that in order to make it happen, it will not only require enhanced coordination but also innovative approaches.

"This will require not only enhanced coordination across ASEAN and UN bodies, but also bold and innovative approaches, from digital public infrastructure to the ethical application of artificial intelligence and green technologies," he said.

He added that "these efforts will help transform sustainable development from a shared aspiration into a live reality for all people."

Marcos made these remarks as he vowed that if the Philippines is elected for a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council for 2027–2028, "the Philippines will continue to uphold the primacy of the rule of law and the peaceful settlement of disputes in the maintenance of international peace and security."

Meanwhile, the President said the Philippines’ ratification of the Agreement on Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) solidified the Philippines’ commitment to uphold the rules-based order governed by international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and to fulfill its duty to protect and preserve the marine environment, including in the high seas.

“The agreement is especially important as the Philippines is adjacent to wide swathes of high seas in the Pacific and pockets of high seas in the South China Sea, as confirmed by the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award,” said the President.

“On this note, we will seek to apply the agreement to the pockets of the high seas in the South China Sea,” he added.

The President also cited the close coordination between ASEAN and the UN in strengthening peacekeeping efforts and disaster preparedness and response, adding the Philippines is among the earliest and most steadfast contributors to UN peacekeeping since the 1960s.

He stated that the Philippines remains committed to advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and called on ASEAN to “fully harness its partnerships with the UN to accelerate meaningful progress.”

On the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Summit, Marcos met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres to discuss key areas of cooperation.

According to him, they reaffirmed their commitment to preserving peace and stability, economic growth, social development and equality.

"I conveyed that the Philippines will continue to be a champion of climate action and a reliable partner of the United Nations. We both looked forward to fostering bilateral cooperation and UN’s continued support to ASEAN and the ASEAN-UN framework," Marcos said.