ASEAN Perspectives

Watch: Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s speech during state banquet in Malacanang

(Eagle News) — Indonesian President Joko Widodo said he was “extremely happy” for the warm welcome that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and the Philippine government had given to him and his delegation During the state banquet for the Indonesian leader Friday night in Malacanag, Widodo also cited the many common qualities that he and President Duterte both have. “We were both mayors of medium-sized cities,” he said. “I believe that you and I are not […]

Watch: President Duterte says Indonesia is a “true friend,” a brother in state banquet for President Widodo

  Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte extols Indonesia as a brother and a “true friend” during the state banquet given in honor of President Joko Widodo of Indonesia.   This was held on Friday, April 28, during the Indonesian leader’s state visit to the Philippines. Widodo’s state visit was the second state visit received by President Duterte. The first was that of Brunei’s Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, who had also expressed support for the Philippines’ ASEAN chairmanship […]

First ASEAN RoRo service to reduce shipping time from 3-5 weeks to 1-1/2 day in BIMP-EAGA

  The 30th ASEAN Summit, which includes the sub-regional meetings of Brunei Darussalam Indonesia Malaysia, Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) aims to enhance transport connectivity, generate more private investments, enhance trade, and increase local government engagement. Under this initiative, a Roll-on Roll-Off (RoRo) ferry service will start plying the Davao City-General Santos-Bitung, Indonesia route on April 30, 2017, will provide a faster and cheaper channel of trading goods among EAGA’s key cities. “This is the […]

PHL as ASEAN chair to stress peaceful resolution of disputes in South China Sea, says President Duterte

  (Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte said it was important for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to work on the “peaceful resolution” of the South China Sea disputes, even as he chided his critics pressing him to enforce a UN-backed tribunal ruling on the disputed seas to have a “reality check.” During the reading of the joint press statement Thursday (April 27) with Brunei’s Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah in Malacanan Palace, President Duterte said […]

Brunei leader expresses support for PHL’s ASEAN chairmanship, and President Duterte’s drug war

  (Eagle News) — The Sultan of Brunei has expressed support for the Philippines’ chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year, as well as for President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war. During his state visit Thursday, April 27, His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Prime Minister of Brunei Darussalam, and Her Majesty Rajah Isteri Saleha, were both welcomed by President Duterte at the Malacañan Palace This was the first state visit under […]

ASEAN BAC

ASEAN turns spotlight on MSMEs, builds ‘ecosystem of enablers’ for prosperity

CONRAD MANILA, Philippines (Eagle News Service) – As the Chair of the 30th ASEAN Summit, President Rodrigo Duterte’s goal is to help fully realize the promises of ASEAN integration. The ASEAN would be the seventh largest economy in the world if it were a single nation. Currently an economic powerhouse, the ASEAN has a combined GDP of US$2.5 trillion.  According to the Asia Report of The Straits Times, the ASEAN is “predicted by some to overtake […]

A lot of work ahead, says chair of ASEAN meeting of Committee on Permanent Representatives

“We have a lot of work to do in preparation for the ASEAN summit.” This was according to Philippine ambassador to ASEAN Elizabeth P. Buensuceso who chaired the meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (CPR) on April 26, starting a series of official meetings that will culminate with the 30th ASEAN summit on April 29. The Summit preparatory work was to “ensure that all outcome documents and all issues are in order […]

ASEAN leaders to express concern on South China Sea increased activities, but no direct China criticism

  Southeast Asian leaders will express concern this week about an “escalation of activities” in the South China Sea but avoid directly criticizing China nor any direct mention of the tribunal ruling that rejected China’s sweeping claims on the disputed seas , according to the draft of a summit statement. The statement, set to be released on Saturday at the end of a two-day leaders’ meeting in Manila, reflects Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s efforts to […]

Vice President Mike Pence reaffirms US continued commitment to ASEAN

United States Vice President Mike Pence reaffirmed his country’s continued commitment to strengthen and deepen its strategic partnership with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations during his historic visit to the ASEAN Secretariat on April 20, where he met the regional bloc’s secretary-general Le Luong Minh. He described ASEAN as a “historic institution” that ensures the security of the region, and acknowledged its success in promoting the quality of life and the prosperity of its people. “It has […]

DOF chief Dominguez to ASEAN investors: This is the best time to invest in region

(Eagle News) — Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III told participants at the ASEAN Finance Ministers Investors’ Seminar (AFMIS) that now is the best time to invest in the economies of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as they are expected to collectively become a strong driver of global growth in the next decade. Dominguez, as host of this year’s AFMIS, delivered the opening remarks at the forum’s plenary session. Finance ministers and central […]

Dominguez cites ASEAN as key global growth driver; says PHL will benefit from this

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III has cited the key role played by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in driving the growth of the global economy and facilitating cooperation within the 10-member regional bloc. Dominguez said ASEAN’S future “will be shaped by more intense regionalism,” with the Philippines benefiting from this move as regional cooperation had “helped nurse the modernization of our economy.”   https://youtu.be/oi9k8DysnRw “Fifty years ago, a group of visionaries dared to imagine […]

“Good sign” that China now wants a “code of conduct” for peaceful South China Sea, says DFA

  (Eagle News) — China is now pushing for an ASEAN-China framework on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, which will hopefully prevent the escalating of tensions in the region and promote the peaceful settlement of maritime disputes there. This was bared by Acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo in a press conference in Thailand where he also revealed that China and Philippines have already established a “bilateral mechanism” where both countries […]