JAKARTA, 31 March to 01 April 2022 — Ambassador Elizabeth P. Buensuceso and Ambassador Luis T. Cruz, Eminent Person and High-Level Representative of the Philippines respectively, stressed the importance of strengthening ASEAN and maintaining ASEAN Centrality at the Inaugural Meeting of the High-Level Task Force (HLTF) on the ASEAN Community’s Post-2025 Vision held in Jakarta on 31 March – 01 April 2022.
Ambassador Buensuceso emphasized that considering the ongoing major power rivalry in the geopolitical architecture, and unprecedented challenges such as COVID- 19 and other pandemics, ASEAN must reinforce its Centrality to remain relevant and serve the people that it represents.
In envisioning ASEAN’s future development, Ambassador Buensuceso highlighted core priorities of the Philippines such as addressing climate change, biodiversity protection, maritime cooperation, the protection of migrant workers, gender mainstreaming, and public health cooperation, among others. Ambassador Cruz added that creative economies are one of ASEAN’s strengths and should therefore be harnessed regionally in order to globally position this as part of ASEAN’s identity.
The HLTF is tasked to chart the ASEAN Community’s Post-2025 Vision which should reflect the future development and aspirations of ASEAN towards an integrated, peaceful and stable community.
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