VIENTIANE — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday arrived in Lao PDR to participate in this year’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, where the Philippines is expected to urge its neighbors anew to make a united stance against China’s incursions in the South China Sea.

Since his first ASEAN participation, the President has consistently raised alarm over Beijing’s aggression in the strategic waters in the heart of Southeast Asia, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) earlier said.

“The President will continue to defend the Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction in accordance with international law including the 1982 UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award,” DFA Assistant Secretary Daniel Espiritu said in an earlier press conference.

ASEAN earlier said that it aims to finalize the a code of conduct in the South China Sea by 2026, a document which would determine how claimant countries can peacefully resolve disputes in the strategic waterway.

But arguments on whether the COC should be legally binding or not, as well as issues if non-claimant countries could intervene in talks have dragged the finalization of the document for decades.

This year’s Summit will test anew Southeast Asian nations’ ability to unite as a bloc to address China’s growing aggression in the strategic waterway as this will be the ASEAN debut of Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

This year’s ASEAN will also be the swansong of Indonesian President Joko Widodo who will end his term next month.

Meantime, the Philippines is also expected to highlight its “advocacies in connectivity and resilience, especially in strengthening the digital economy, supporting the MSME, the promotion of renewable energy development and the pressing impacts of climate change” in line with the Summit’s theme “ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience.”

In his 4-day visit to Lao PDR, the Philippines leader is expected to hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Canada, Japan, New Zealand and Vietnam, the DFA had said without mentioning possible talking points between Marcos Jr. and other heads of states.

Shortly after his arrival in the Lao capital, Marcos Jr. met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and “reaffirmed their commitment to enhance the strategic partnership” of the two countries.

The Philippines and Vietnam are both claiming parts of the South China Sea, but have managed to settle disputes peacefully, and cooperate on several fronts such as search and rescue operations at sea.

Both countries have also been vocal in rebuking China for illegally claiming nearly the entire strategic waterway, where trillions-worth of seaborne goods pass through annually.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden are not expected to attend the regional gathering, but Beijing will be represented by Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang, while US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will lead Washington’s delegation, the DFA said.

On the sidelines of the Summit, Marcos Jr. will meet with the TikTok regional director of Southeast Asia.

“He will be meeting with the TikTok creators and sellers,” the DFA official said.

The President also met with some 400 Filipinos based in Vientiane, shortly upon landing in the land-locked country.

ADVANCING NATIONAL INTEREST

Marcos Jr. told Filipinos in Vientiane that he would “advance Philippine national interest, including maintaining peace and security in the region” during his participation in this year’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit.

The President did not outline which security issues he intends to address in the regional bloc’s meeting that would be held here in the next 3 days.

“We are here precisely to find ways to cooperate with partners that can meet the challenges to forge a better future,” he said.

Marcos Jr. also thank Filipinos based in Lao PDR for their contributions to the economy and international reputation of the Philippines.

There are about 2,000 OFWs in Lao PDR, most of them working as professionals as well as staff in the hospitality industry, data from the DFA showed.

“We are so proud of all of you and all the things that you do and the ways that you project the Philippines,” the chief executive said in his speech during his meeting with the Filipino community.

“You have been superlative ambassadors dahil sa kahangahangang ginagawa ninyo at iba pang OFW (overseas Filipino workers),” he said.

Marcos Jr. said his administration is working to put OFWs at the forefront of government services in recognition of their contribution in growing the Philippine economy.

“Patuloy namaing ginagawang prayoridad ang mga OFW upang aming maitaguyod ang inyong mga karapatan,” the President said.

“Damanga-dama naman na ang mataas na pagtingin sa inyo ng mga taga dito… Through your daily interactions with the locals, you have become valuable members of society,” he said.

“You make us all very proud,” he added.