MANILA, Nov. 23 (PNA) — President Benigno Aquino III on Monday stressed the importance of stronger partnership among the Association of Southeast Asian Nation-member countries to sustain growth and stability in the region.
In his arrival speech after a four-day stay in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to attend the 27th ASEAN Summit over the weekend, the President said ASEAN leaders and their dialogue partners from China, Japan, Korea, United States, India, Australia, New Zealand and the United Nations (UN) were able to set the path to ensure the region’s future in terms of economy, security, and social development.
This, after the leaders launched the ASEAN Community and the ASEAN Vision 2025, which are eyed to strengthen functional cooperation among the country-members and their partners.
President Aquino said these measures are expected to result to faster and more focused solution of addressing issues like disaster, terrorism, pandemics and trafficking in persons.
“Wala pong duda: Sa pandaigdigang komunidad, ang pag-unlad ng isang bansa ay may kaakibat na pag-unlad sa iba. Gayundin, ang hamon para sa bawat isa ay hamon na dapat tugunan ng lahat. Pagkakaisa at pagtutulungan ang susi upang masigurong walang maiiwan,” he said
The President also cited that stability is an important factor to achieve progress, thus, the need for every country to help for this to materialize.
He added that most of the leaders who attended the Summit share the view for the need to follow fair, peaceful and rational resolution of issues that heed international law. (PNA)