It is one of the major talking points at the said event.
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Deputy Assistant Secretary and ASEAN Spokesperson Dominic Xavier Imperial disclosed that the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will issue a joint statement on how the regional bloc would respond to the Middle East crisis.
The said move will be done as the Philippines chairs the 48th ASEAN Summit, the foreign affairs official shared in the press briefing at the International Media Center (IMC) in Cebu.
“We’re actually very confident about the declaration on how ASEAN will respond to the Middle East crisis,” he said. “The main purpose really here is for all the member states ASEAN to be able to come up with measures that will help us respond not only to the current situation but also to other future crisis.”
Imperial noted that there will be no challenge or impediment to the issuance of the declaration, saying that they are “very encouraged by the commitment of all the ASEAN member states.”
ASEAN MUST REMAIN AGILE, UNITED
Meanwhile, Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, who chairs this year’s ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, underscored the need for the regional bloc to remain agile and united in addressing immediate global challenges, while also staying committed to long-term regional goals.
In her opening statement, Lazaro said, “Navigating uncertainty requires both agility in responding to immediate and pressing challenges and steadfast commitment in pursuing our long-term goals under the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.”
The DFA official also made the remarks as the ASEAN member states cope with the effects of the ongoing Middle East conflict.
The war, which started in late February, has disrupted energy flows, trade routes, food supply chains, and affected the welfare of ASEAN nationals in the region.
According to Lazaro, the crisis has highlighted how developments outside Southeast Asia can have “immediate and profound effects” on ASEAN economies.
“For ASEAN, which imports about 66% of its crude oil, this crisis meant significant increase in fuel and energy cost, which eventually led to higher prices for agricultural inputs, food, and basic commodities,” she said. “The crisis also caused disruptions in some sectors including transportation and tourism, and put at risk millions of ASEAN nationals in the Middle East.”
Lazaro noted that ASEAN Foreign Ministers had convened two Special Meetings to discuss a coordinated response to the crisis, reflecting the bloc’s resolve to act “with urgency, coordinate closely, and respond collectively.”
She also added that ASEAN’s experience amid the ongoing crisis also demonstrated the importance of strengthening the regional bloc’s crisis coordination and institutional readiness.
Meanwhile, recognizant of the current challenges, Lazaro said the ASEAN remains committed to advancing key regional priorities related to ASEAN Community-building.
These include the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, which is in its golden jubilee this year; Timor-Leste’s post-admission integration; and efforts to uphold ASEAN Centrality in its external partnerships.
Lazaro, who also sits as the Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair on Myanmar, also said that she would brief fellow ministers on developments related to Myanmar and the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus.