President Duterte lauds ASEAN on its 53rd Founding Anniversary
MANILA – ASEAN, founded in 1967 from five founding members has grown into ten over the years and has continued to be a “force for peace and prosperity in the region.”
In his message as ASEAN marks its 53rd foundation today, President Duterte said the region is the world’s fifth largest economy, “driving growth and development across the region.” He added ASEAN sits at the center of mechanisms promoting peace and stability in a rapidly changing regional environment.
President Duterte said despite the COVID-19 pandemic, ASEAN’s commitment to community-building “has never been stronger.”
He said recovery from the pandemic seems to be a frightening task. However, he added “if pursued with friends, the burden is shared and transformed into an opportunity to create a more resilient Southeast Asian region.” He expressed optimism ASEAN members will continue to work together as one and further strengthen partnerships with friends within and outside the region.
“We are confident that the AEAN way of partnership and mutual aid will help us overcome the COVID-19 pandemic and move forward with our community-building endeavors,” he concluded.
In 1967, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore founded ASEAN in Bangkok, Thailand. Brunei Darussalam joined on January 8,1984, Vietnam on July 28,1995, Laos and Myanmar on July 23,1997 and Cambodia on April 30,1999. (Melo M. Acuña)
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (PCOO File Photo)
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