President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Sunday pushed for stronger cooperation between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and India in advancing the rule of law and peaceful settlement of maritime disputes to ensure stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

During the 22nd ASEAN-India Summit held as part of the three-day 47th ASEAN Leaders’ Summit and Related Summits held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center, Malaysia, President Marcos highlighted the common interest of the Philippines and India in upholding maritime rule of law.

“Foremost, as a maritime and archipelagic nation, I wish to highlight the great importance of the rule of law in our oceans,” President Marcos said in his intervention during the dialogue between ASEAN leaders with India’s Prime Minister Narenda Modi.

“Both ASEAN and India should see peaceful settlement of disputes and maritime cooperation as essential, as our seas contribute to the peace and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region,” the President stressed.

President Marcos, who made a State Visit to India last August, said deeper cooperation between ASEAN and India is vital as Southeast Asia’s next-door neighbor which is poised to become the world’s fourth-largest economy has a lot to offer to ASEAN as a region.

“As a committed Dialogue Partner that recognizes ASEAN Centrality through its Act East Policy, which stresses ASEAN as a core pillar of its engagement policy, we may also turn our gaze to India for solutions to our common concerns,” said President Marcos.

The President thanked Prime Minister Modi for India’s consistent support for international law and the rule of law in the oceans.

“I also value the experience and support of India for the peaceful settlement of disputes and adherence to international law, particularly UNCLOS, which upholds our common interest as a community of nations to promote the peaceful uses of our seas and oceans, whether in the Bay of Bengal or the South China Sea,” said President Marcos, referring to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

“By submitting itself to the judgment of an international tribunal to resolve its maritime dispute, India, as a responsible major power and a good neighbor, should be seen as an example of how it uses international law to resolve differences,” added the President.

President Marcos said as ASEAN Chair next year, the Philippines looks forward to undertaking meaningful activities to celebrate the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation in 2026, including the conduct of maritime exercises to promote freedom and safety of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region.

“The Philippines is confident that our activities to promote maritime cooperation are a testament to our shared determination to protect our trade and prosperity, and our freedoms,” said the President.

Meanwhile, President Marcos reaffirmed the Philippines’ strong support for the ongoing review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA), saying the “timely and meaningful upgrade of AITIGA will not only expand market access and strengthen supply chains, but also enhance ASEAN-India economic relations and reinforce the credibility of our regional integration agenda.”

President Marcos also called for deepening ASEAN-India cooperation on technological innovations, citing financial technology (fintech) and sustainable energy among the areas of cooperation.

On the political-security front, President Marcos recognized India’s strong support for ASEAN Centrality and active participation in ASEAN-led mechanisms which allowed closer cooperation in maritime security, disaster response, counter-terrorism, and cyber resilience.  | PND