Duterte urges enhanced multilateralism in East Asia

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has called on leaders in the 15th East Asia Summit (EAS) for enhanced multilateralism in addressing the challenges on security and the way of life of the people in the region.

How East Asia leaders respond to challenges – from COVID-19 to climate change to geopolitical tensions – will shape the area’s collective future, he pointed out.

“We must act with a greater sense of shared responsibility and common destiny. The way forward is enhanced multilateralism. One thing is clear – no country can address these issues on its own,” Duterte said in his intervention during the virtual 15th EAS held Saturday.

He added that “the fate of the powerful can no longer be separated from those of the weak.”

“This is our reality today. Major upheavals call for decisive responses. This is true today, more than ever, as we confront complex issues with far-reaching consequences for our peoples,” Duterte noted.

The EAS is a regional forum held annually by leaders of, initially, 16 countries in the East Asian, Southeast Asian, South Asian and Oceanic regions, based on the ASEAN Plus Six mechanism.

Membership in EAS expanded to 18 countries, after Russia and the US joined at the Sixth EAS in 2011. Since its establishment, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations held the central role and leadership in the forum. EAS, whose meetings are held after the annual ASEAN leaders’ meetings, plays an important role in the regional architecture of Asia-Pacific.

The first ever EAS was held in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia on Dec. 14, 2005.

Duterte said the East Asian nations may differ in national priorities, but the Philippines believes that they share enough fundamental interests to unite them into action.

“First, we all want sustained and inclusive growth. But this will not or will be beyond reach if we fail to revitalize our economies. We have to reopen while containing the spread of (the) virus. However, without a vaccine or a cure, this is a difficult balance to achieve. We must work together to ensure that all countries have access to safe vaccines at affordable terms,” he stressed. – Alexis Romero