He said that he will join the summit aimed at advancing peace, food and energy security, and rules-based international order, among others.
On Friday, September 11, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his delegation departed from Villamor Air Base in Pasay City at around 7:50 pm as they are bound for New Delhi, India to join the 18th BRICS Summit, which will happen on September 12 and 13.
Marcos is set to represent the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Community, as the Philippines is currently the ASEAN Chair. Although, he noted that he will also drive forward and provide practical substance to the Philippines’ engagement with India by assessing the status of longstanding bilateral ties between both nations.
“We have been asked to participate in the BRICS Summit at a time when the global economy is undergoing profound changes, even pressure,” Marcos said in his departure statement. “Indeed, international and regional groupings may diverge on issues, thrusts, and interests. It is our conviction, however, that as a broader community of nations, it is imperative that we coalesce and cohere around issues that impact on us collectively.”
The Chief Executive said that he will carry ASEAN’s voice and help amplify the Community’s perspectives on the current issues guided by the priorities of the Philippine Chairship. These are peace and security anchors, prosperity corridors, and people empowerment.
ASEAN, an association comprising 11 countries in Southeast Asia, will engage the BRICS community in advancing its quest for peace, inclusive growth, regional resilience, sustainable development, food and energy security, and a rules-based international order, the President emphasized.
“Malaki ang maiaambag ng ASEAN dito, kabilang na ang ating mga naging aksyon sa mga isyung ito,” he added, underscoring that the current priorities of the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairship aligns with that of the BRICS.
Thus, Marcos said that BRICS will be an opportunity to highlight ASEAN priorities and he intends to underscore ASEAN’s commitment to deepen its engagement with its partners through established frameworks.
“I will offer views on how partners can and should work in concert, if not together, to address these challenges, especially those that impact developing countries and emerging economies,” he said.
Marcos furthered, “We will call for fairer global governance, stronger disaster preparedness, the responsible use of new technologies, climate action, and the peaceful settlement of disputes under international law.”
President Marcos is scheduled to attend the Open Session on September 13, to which the Philippines was invited as ASEAN Chair and as Outreach Country.
Meanwhile, speaking in his capacity as the Philippine leader, the Chief Executive noted, “With Prime Minister Modi, we will track progress in the key areas of our Strategic Partnership, and pick up on our governments’ sustained exchange of perspectives on broader economic and strategic questions confronting our shared interests.”
Marcos detailed that he will review with Modi the progress in the implementation of the Five-Year Plan of Action for 2025-2029 that underpins our Strategic Partnership.
Among the agenda would include defense and maritime cooperation, trade and investment, the proposed Preferential Trade Agreement, health and pharmaceuticals, digital cooperation, tourism, direct air connectivity, and people-to-people ties.
At the same time, he would renew the invitation for Prime Minister Modi to visit Manila for the ASEAN-India Summit and the East Asia Summit in November.
On the sidelines of his visit to New Delhi, President Marcos said he looks forward to engaging Indian companies and players on possible investment opportunities in the Philippines, particularly in infrastructure, digitalization, information technology (IT), pharmaceuticals, transport and logistics, and other sectors critical to Philippine development.
President Marcos said the “task is to see to it that these modern connections remain open, resilient, and capable of delivering prosperity to our people,” citing the centuries-long ties between the Philippines and India.
BRICS represents a group of major emerging national economies, with members including Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia.
Meanwhile, partner countries from the ASEAN include Malaysia, Vietnam, and Thailand.
