Philippines: ASEAN Continues to Strengthen Coordination to Face Uncertainty

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Philippines has conveyed that ASEAN is striving to further strengthen regional coordination and ensure the region remains open and stable amid global economic uncertainties. According to a press release from ASEAN Philippines 2026 accessed in Jakarta on Thursday, this was stated by Philippine Secretary of Trade and Industry Cristina Roque at the opening of the 27th Meeting of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Council in Cebu, Philippines. Roque said that ASEAN discussions are continuing following the recent virtual Special AEC Council Meeting to address rapid developments in the Middle East. “What we are doing here is important. Because this meeting is not just an exchange of views. This is where we align our positions, sharpen our priorities, and ensure that when issues are raised, those issues are clear, focused, and ready for decision,” she said. She also noted that ASEAN is working through “steady and planned steps”, where discussions and meetings gradually bring the region closer to concrete decisions and outcomes. Roque also emphasised the impact of current global developments, particularly the rise in energy costs and ongoing supply chain disruptions that continue to affect ASEAN’s economy and its people. “We are here not only to respond to these pressures, but also to ensure that our region remains open, stable, and continues to progress,” said Roque. In addition to addressing current challenges, Roque said ASEAN will continue to advance the Philippine Economic Outcomes Priorities, including the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), while beginning to translate the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 into real actions. “This is not a separate path, but part of a single effort to ensure ASEAN remains resilient, competitive, and relevant in a changing global environment,” she said. At the 48th ASEAN Summit on Friday (8/5), ASEAN will issue a regional collective response statement to the Middle East crisis, outlining collective actions to be implemented by member countries to strengthen energy security, market stability, financial resilience, and macroeconomic stability. The statement will also identify how ASEAN will further protect food resilience and agricultural supply chains, as well as strengthen the regional humanitarian response to address the crisis’s impacts. The Philippines will host the 2026 ASEAN Summit and related meetings under the theme “Navigating Our Future, Together.”