Duterte asks ASEAN member-states, US to sustain strategic partnership

President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday called on his fellow leaders in Southeast Asia and the US to continue pursuing its partnership to further develop the region.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the President’s speech was read by Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. during the ASEAN-US Summit since the chief executive was supervising response efforts following the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses.

“On the recovery front, the President asked ASEAN member-states and the US to sustain the initiatives of the ASEAN-US Strategic Partnership for regional growth, where both parties could benefit from increased trade and investments as well as cooperation in the digital economy and innovation,” Roque said.

“He further invited the US to contribute to the COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund, the ASEAN Regional Reserve of Medical Supplies and the ASEAN Center for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases,” he added.

The country’s chief executive also expressed his gratitude to the US for its generous assistance of state-of-the-art ventilators and other medical supplies to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the Philippines.   

“On the South China Sea, the Chief Executive underscored that the Philippines is for the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law stressing there is no other viable path but honest negotiations and sincere diplomacy,” Roque said.

ASEAN-Australia

In a separate statement, the presidential spokesman said Duterte also underscored that ASEAN member-states and Australia must address extreme poverty, which has been worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“Part of the collective efforts is to accelerate each nation’s and the region's socio-economic recovery,” Roque said, quoting the President.

“The President enumerated various ways. First is the reinvigoration of trade and economic ties,” the Palace official said.

Duterte cited the ASEAN-Australian, New Zealand Free Trade Agreement and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. 

“While he acknowledged that the pandemic has changed the way countries do business, science, innovation and technology can provide direction for economies to recover; thus, there is a need to intensify cooperation in this area,” Roque said.

The President also asked his counterparts to prepare the region for future pandemics by building the capacity of the health system through the ASEAN-Australia Health Security Partnership, he said. —KG/BM, GMA News