Manila: The Philippines is pushing for tighter regional cooperation among ASEAN member states, urging them to work more closely and respond more decisively to common regional challenges as it prepares for the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits in November.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Philippines, as ASEAN chair, has gathered senior officials from ASEAN member states, China, Japan, and South Korea on Wednesday for back-to-back meetings. These meetings are aimed at strengthening regional cooperation, building resilience, and preparing agreements and other outcomes for consideration by ASEAN leaders later this year.
The ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM), chaired by Philippine SOM Leader and Undersecretary for Policy Leo Herrera-Lim, focused on regional developments and key ASEAN initiatives, including the implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, applications to accede to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), and the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) on Myanmar.
Herrera-Lim highlighted regional issues faced by ASEAN, emphasizing the importance of combining the capabilities of ASEAN members and utilizing the region's collective potential to address common challenges and strengthen resilience. "Several issues have called for us to innovate, be more agile, yet all the more grounded in our shared values and principles," he said.
At the ASEAN Plus Three Preparatory Senior Officials' Meeting (APT Prep-SOM) with Japanese Deputy Director-General Hokugo Kyoko, which followed the SOM, Herrera-Lim reiterated the need for a coordinated regional response. The meeting reviewed developments in ASEAN Plus Three cooperation and prepared for the 29th ASEAN Plus Three Summit in November.
The ASEAN Plus Three framework, established in 1997, brings ASEAN together with China, Japan, and South Korea to advance cooperation in areas such as food and energy security, supply chains, and people-centered cooperation. Herrera-Lim stated that the Philippines has been urging ASEAN to remain focused and practical amid external pressures. "Across our ASEAN Chairship, the Philippines has consistently called on ASEAN to be strategic, pragmatic, and resolute, especially in the face of external shocks," he added.
The recent meetings were part of the Philippines' ongoing preparations for the November summits, as ASEAN Chair. Discussions among senior officials are expected to help shape key documents and outcomes that will be elevated to ASEAN foreign ministers and leaders for consideration. This process is seen as an important step toward translating the Philippines' priorities as ASEAN chair into decisions and cooperation that can address challenges facing the region.
