P-Noy leads 43rd ASEAN Foundation Day

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino led yesterday the celebration of the 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foundation Day, vowing that the Philippines will fulfill its international commitments without undermining and forsaking its national interests, and will continue to be “a good neighbor, a productive partner and a consensus-builder” in the region.

The ASEAN Charter in Filipino was also launched yesterday, simultaneous with the opening of a photo exhibit on ASEAN biodiversity initiatives.

Also present during the celebration ceremonies at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in Pasay City were Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo, Senators Edgardo Angara, Loren Legarda and Teofisto Guingona III, members of the diplomatic corps, Cabinet officials, members of the House of Representatives, DFA officials and staff.

“Today, the ASEAN Charter is more of an aspiration rather than a reality. My administration will do its part in the long process of creating a more binding commitment to our mutual economic and political interests,” Mr. Aquino said in his speech.

“I note that ASEAN aims to build a people-oriented regional community through three key pillars, namely political-security, economic and socio-cultural, by 2015. That is a year before I leave office. My administration will do everything it can to make sure our region achieves this goal,” he added.

Some of the concrete steps the President mentioned are the country’s commitment to abide by the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, the support to the ASEAN Connectivity project and further cultural exchanges with its ASEAN neighbors.