President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Saturday in Phnom Penh the Philippines is ready to implement the new work plan of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its partners in the ASEAN Plus Three (APT) for 2023 to 2027.
Press OIC-Secretary, Undersecretary Cheloy Garafil said the President gave his assurance in his intervention remarks at the 25th APT Summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The APT plan will serve as the partnership’s workplan guide for 2023-2027.
Garafil said the workplan covers “various areas including public health, food security, financial cooperation, and digital economy particularly as the region moves towards the post-pandemic recovery.”
The APT Cooperation Work Plan 2023-2027 involves the 10-member states of ASEAN and their “Plus 3” dialogue partners — China, Japan, and South Korea. The plan will serve as the group’s guide to enhance the regional bloc’s cooperation with its three dialogue partners over the next five years, and hopefully, to achieve their “long-term” vision of establishing an “East Asia community,” with ASEAN as the driving force.
The work plan lays out strategic measures to help strengthen cooperation in political, security, economic, financial, socio-cultural, and connectivity concerns, among others.