At the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu on Friday (8 May), Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. called for stronger regional cooperation as Southeast Asian leaders addressed growing geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty.
Opening the plenary session, Marcos said the situation in the Middle East had contributed to higher living costs, supply disruptions and increased economic pressure across the ASEAN region. He urged member states to strengthen “ASEAN centrality and solidarity” through practical cooperation.
Key priorities discussed at the summit included:
- Regional energy security and renewable energy development
- Food security concerns linked to global trade disruptions
- Protection and safety of ASEAN nationals overseas
- Greater use of artificial intelligence in energy management and resilience
Marcos also warned that disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz had affected food prices and fertilizer supplies, reinforcing the need for coordinated regional action on stability, resilience and economic cooperation.
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