SPEECH Statement of President Aquino for the 23rd ASEAN Summit October 9, 2013 Statement of His Excellency Benigno S. Aquino III President of the Philippines For the 23rd ASEAN Summit [Delivered in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam, on October 9, 2013] Your Majesty and Excellencies: I thank His Majesty for the warm welcome and the generous hospitality that he has extended to me and my delegation. We also appreciate the kindness that His Majesty has demonstrated towards the thousands of Filipinos who live and work here in Brunei Darussalam. I thank His Majesty for his outstanding chairmanship of ASEAN. His leadership has been fundamental in fostering open dialogue that has served to promote ASEAN’s unity and centrality. I thank each and everyone of my colleagues for their invaluable contribution in bringing us closer to achieving the objectives of the ASEAN community. We are grateful for this important partnership towards building a more peaceful, more prosperous ASEAN region. On a personal note, I look forward with optimism to strengthening our cooperation and deepening our friendship. It is by so doing that we can bring ASEAN to greater heights. At the same time, we fully rely upon a productive and constructive stewardship of Myanmar. Excellencies, we share the belief that it is through cooperation and positive engagement that we lay the foundations for greater economic integration by 2015. This will redound not only to reinforcing our region’s growing economic influence, but also brings us closer to achieving regional integration, ultimately leading to the growth and advancement of all our peoples. For our part, the Philippines continues to focus on the development of micro, small, and medium enterprises in our country, knowing full well that sectors such as these enable many of our countrymen to live dignified and productive lives. We support the realization of the ASEAN Strategic Action Plan for SME Development for 2010-2015. The Philippines will continue to support the ASEAN-wide Self-Certification Scheme, which will help facilitate the participation of MSMEs in regional trade. In support of the Phnom Penh Agenda for ASEAN Community Building and to facilitate the free flow of goods in our region, the Philippines has developed the Philippine Tariff Finder. As the first of its kind in ASEAN, this free online facility allows users to do a quick search of Philippine tariff rates on specific products and also enables them to access the eight existing Philippine tariff schedules. We are glad that our advocacy for social protection will be realized at this Summit through the adoption of an ASEAN Declaration on Strengthening Social Protection. My administration believes that a strong economy is founded on an empowered citizenry. This is why since taking office, we have focused on improving education, healthcare, and social welfare programs in our country; I believe that the potential for development of our nation rests in the capacity of our people to contribute in building a resilient economy and a society that values fairness and equality. This belief continues to define our policies and serves as the foundation of our position for promoting social protection initiatives in ASEAN. Just as all of us here are determined to find ways to help one another and safeguard the welfare of our people, it is as well our belief that we must continue to deepen our engagements with our external partners. This can be done through meaningful avenues of the ASEAN Plus Process, ASEAN-led mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum, the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting Plus, and the East Asia Summit; and by working to enhance mutual cooperation through the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. These enable us to enhance cooperation in trade, human rights protection, maritime security, and people-to-people connectivity, among many others. Clearly: Our development as a region cannot be realized in an international environment where the rule of law does not exist. Thus, the recognition of the rule of law ensures that every member state’s interest is upheld and respected. In the context of intertwining interests in the sea known by many names—which is west of the Philippines, east of Vietnam, north of Malaysia, south of China—the challenge that confronts one is a challenge that confronts all. All parties—both ASEAN and non-ASEAN, claimant or non-claimant—have stated: Follow the rule of law. In 2002, we tried to come up with a Code of Conduct. We failed. We came up with guidelines that became the DOC. What better gift to all our peoples than to follow all these sincere words by meaningful actions? This sea known by many names, a problem now, presents an opportunity for ASEAN and all other parties to collectively exercise the observance of the rule of law. This belief guided the Philippines’ decision to take a two-track complementary approach to disputes in the South China Sea, an approach that is both peaceful and rules-based. First, to manage tensions, we are advocating an expeditious conclusion of the ASEAN-China Code of Conduct. Second, to resolve disputes, we are pursuing arbitration for the clarification of maritime entitlements. Both tracks are legally-binding and both are anchored on international law. And I am pleased to note that the first official consultations between ASEAN and China on the COC were held last month in Suzhou, China. The Philippines looks forward to the early conclusion of a Code of Conduct. As we move towards finalizing the COC, we enjoin all parties in the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in all its aspects, especially paragraph 5, which in effect preserves the status quo at the time that the DOC was concluded in 2002. Excellencies, as we continue to tread the path towards regional integration, let us always bear in mind that, as one ASEAN Community, we all share a single vision of progress, a vision that finds its roots in a common heritage. Thank you, and good day.
Posted on: Wed, 09 Oct 2013 11:51:06 +0000
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