PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. brings home the good news after his successful participation to the recently concluded inaugural Association of Southeast Asian Nations- Gulf Cooperation Council (ASEAN- GCC) Summit held in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
In his arrival statement at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on 21 October 2023, the Chief Executive summarizes the results of his participation, where he promoted the Philippines as a dynamic environment for business prospects and established a deeper relationship with the Arab country.
President Marcos Jr. engaged in bilateral talks with counterparts from Southeast Asia and the Gulf Nations, which include Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to further improve ties between the two regional blocs.
Together with the Philippine delegation, the President reaffirmed the Administration’s commitment to advance the country’s priorities in the region within the ASEAN-GCC framework, highlighting the need for cooperation in sectors such as food and energy security, logistics and supply chains, digital transformation, and free flow of goods, with a focus on the rights and protection of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
He also urged fellow leaders from the ASEAN-GCC to uphold rules-based international order to ensure harmony for the rest of the world, following the recent turmoil in some areas, including the Israel and Gaza conflict.
Capping off his trip, the President spent time with thousands of Filipinos in a gathering in Riyadh, where he reported the productive outcomes of his visit to the Kingdom and personally conveyed his gratitude for their invaluable contributions to the country.
