Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. (Photo: AFP/VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has expressedhis confidence that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) willovercome the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recovering from the coronavirus crisis “appears to be a daunting task,”Duterte said in a message to mark the bloc’s 53rd foundinganniversary on August 8, adding that “but if pursued withfriends, the burden is shared and transformed into an opportunity to create amore resilient Southeast Asian region.”
“We are confident that the ASEAN way of partnership and mutual aid willhelp us overcome the COVID-19 pandemic and move forward with our community-buildingendeavors,” the President added.
He said with a deeper sense of common purpose, the regional bloc willcontinue to work together as one and strengthen partnerships with friendswithin and outside the region.
Though challenges remain, ASEAN’s commitment to community-building hasnever been stronger, Duterte noted.
The President emphasised that today,ASEAN is the world’s fifth largest economy, driving growth and developmentacross the region. “It is at the center of mechanims promoting peace andstability in our rapidly changing regional environment. More importantly, ASEANis moving closer to becoming one politically cohesive, economically integratedand socially responsible Community.”
The Philippines was among five founding members of ASEAN. The bloc now comprises 10 members, namely Brunei,Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore,Thailand and Vietnam./.
VNA
