Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
His Excellency The Honorable Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, welcome,
Your Majesty,
Excellencies,
It is my pleasure to once more be here with you after the successful ASEAN-Australia Special Summit, which was held last March.
The celebration of our 50 years of relations is an eloquent testament to the consistent and positive role that Australia has played in ensuring peace and stability in our region and our immediate neighborhood, the Indo-Pacific.
At the same time, the Philippines welcomes Australia’s continued support through programs and initiatives that recognize each country’s needs for the overall goal of promoting the economic welfare of our neighborhood. Now, let us continue to move forward.
We encourage Australia to maintain the momentum of our Summit through continued support of the following: On Maritime Security and Cooperation, we thank Australia for its consistent support for the rule of law, for the 1982 UNCLOS, and the binding 2016 Arbitral Award not only through timely statements of support, but also through capacity-building and academic initiatives to mainstream appreciation of international law.
We also welcome the launch of the Australian Regional Trade for Development (RT4D) Facility, an initiative focused on supporting ASEAN Member States from two (2) regional Free Trade Agreements (FTA), particularly the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA). Under the Aus4ASEAN Digital Transformation and Future Skills Initiative, we thank Australia for convening the 3rd ASEAN TVET Council Regional Policy Dialogue, which has cultivated and facilitated extensive discussions on best practices, as well as contributed ideas to acquire effective strategies for bolstering a resilient and future-ready workforce.
On the sustainability of our seas, the Philippines encourages Australia to promote its developed technologies and build initiatives aimed at mitigating marine pollution, with particular emphasis on the reduction of plastic waste and the promotion of sustainable fisheries management.
Pursuing these initiatives is deemed essential to safeguard marine environments shared by the ASEAN region and by Australia.
On Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Health and Environment, we look forward to Australia to continue its support for the ASEAN Centres of Excellence, specifically, the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) and the ASEAN Centre for Climate Change (ACCC).
As we develop the ASEAN-Australia Plan of Action 2025-2029, let us take into account the pressing need for an effective and inclusive implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and the establishment of its goals and targets on biodiversity conservation, climate action, ecosystems, and ecosystems restoration and their management.
On Healthcare Development, the Philippines once again looks to Australia for its continued support to establish and operationalize the ASEAN One Health Network, as well as the implementation of the ASEAN One Health Joint Plan of Action.
ASEAN-Australia socio-cultural ties have flourished over the last 50 years of our dialogue relations, thanks to our sustained cooperation in education, sports, arts, and cultural exchange programs through the Aus4ASEAN Scholarships, the Aus4ASEAN Digital Transformation and Future Skills Initiative, Australia Awards, and the programs run by the ASEAN-Australia Council and the New Colombo Plan.
As we chart the path for the next 50 years of our relations, please be assured, Prime Minister Albanese, of the Philippines’ unwavering support based on our common values and principles.
Thank you.
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