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JPM-Press Release-2022-9

Ambassador Servigon receives Panama’s Ambassador to ASEAN Manuel Antonio Saturno Escala at the Philippine Mission to ASEAN Chancery

13 May 2022 -   Panama’s Ambassador to ASEAN Manuel Antonio Saturno Escala, paid a courtesy call on Ambassador Noel Servigon, the Philippines’ Permanent Representative to ASEAN at the Philippine Mission Chancery in Jakarta.

They exchanged views on issues of mutual interest to ASEAN, the Philippines and Panama including the recently-held national elections in the Philippines, the shared Latin heritage between Filipinos and the Panamanians, and developments on shipping in the region.

Ambassador Saturno is also Panama’s Ambassador to Indonesia and Consul-General in Jakarta.

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WE, the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United States gather on the occasion of the ASEAN-U.S. Special Summit, the first-ever to be held in Washington, D.C., on 12-13 May 2022.

EMPHASIZING the importance of adhering to key principles, shared values and norms enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, the ASEAN Charter, the Declaration on Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality (ZOPFAN), the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP);

source: https://asean.org/joint-vision-statement-of-the-asean-u-s-special-summit-2022/

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Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. joins ASEAN and US government leaders during day two of the ASEAN-US Special Summit in Washington D.C.

13 MAY 2022

WASHINGTON D.C. – The Philippines called for regional cooperation on maritime security, the climate crisis, and post-pandemic economic recovery during the second day of the ASEAN-US Special Summit.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. joined eight other leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to discuss mutual priorities in the region on maritime security, pandemics, climate action, clean energy transformation, and sustainable infrastructure, as well as on ways to address global issues and emerging challenges.

The second day of the Summit featured a working lunch hosted by U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, and plenary sessions chaired by both President Joseph Biden. Jr. and VP Harris. 

Secretary Locsin led the Philippine delegation to the Special Summit, as the representative of President Rodrigo R. Duterte, who skipped the Summit as a courtesy to the Philippine President-elect. He was joined by Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel G. Romualdez, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Theresa Lazaro, Assistant Secretary Daniel Espiritu, and Assistant Secretary Angela Ponce, as well as officials from the Office of the President and the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C.

In his intervention, Secretary Locsin highlighted America’s role for peace and stability in Southeast Asia. 

“President Biden, your participation gives substance to the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment of being a strong, reliable and dependably present partner in the region; and of America as a force for good and stability in Asia and the rest of the world. That is why the Philippines fully supports the elevation of ASEAN-U.S. relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” he said.

He also welcomed the U.S. Indo-Pacific Strategy as it places Southeast Asia at the center of the regional security architecture and recognizes synergies with the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. “We look forward to the political launch of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF). For that to work, inclusiveness in participation is essential,” he added. The Philippines is among a number of ASEAN countries participating in the launch of IPEF.

Secretary Locsin stressed that integral to the response to the climate crisis is the transition to clean energy and that the Philippines expects the ASEAN-US Energy Ministerial Meeting to advance initiatives on clean and alternative energy sources, including new and emerging clean fuels, and on energy innovation and more efficient energy technologies.

“We are particularly interested in safe, clean, and affordable nuclear power options such as small nuclear modular reactors, which are capable of being built and transported to far-flung energy starved areas,” he added.

The Covid-19 pandemic and the Ukraine crisis showed the need for the ASEAN region to strengthen its infrastructure, connectivity, and supply chains. The Philippines welcomes the progress made on the implementation of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025, but recognizes that more needs to be done. 

“The infrastructural components need more focus on infrastructure compliant with environmental and climate standards, and are also commercially viable,” Secretary Locsin said.

In his closing statement, Secretary Locsin underscored that we need to recover from the pandemic even as we are being hit by the economic consequences of the war in Ukraine, especially in energy supply. “We have yet to develop domestic energy sources in safe, clean ways. But we need American assurance of being left in peace to find and develop our energy sources without threats from a bullying neighbor that sets conditions no sovereign country can submit to,” he said.

Discussions of the Plenary Session on climate action, clean energy and sustainable infrastructure was led by Vice President Kamala Harris, and was joined by Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, Secretary of Energy Jenifer Granholm, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan. 

source: https://philippineembassy-dc.org/ph-pushes-for-regional-cooperation-on-maritime-security-climate-and-post-pandemic-economic-recovery-at-asean-us-special-summit/

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JPM-Press Release-2022-8

Ambassador/Permanent Representative Noel Servigon (left) and State Secretary Henrik Thune, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway have a brief conversation prior to the meeting.

Ambassador/Permanent Representative Noel Servigon (second from left) with other Ambassadors and participants of the 7^th ASEAN-Norway Joint Sectoral Cooperation Committee Meeting.

11 May 2022. - Ambassador/Permanent Representative of the Philippines to ASEAN Noel Servigon participated in the 7^th ASEAN-Norway Joint Sectoral Cooperation Committee Meeting on 11 May 2022 at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta.

Permanent Representative Servigon recognized Norway’s expertise in renewable energy and encouraged Norway to support ASEAN Member States in their efforts to transition to sustainable energy. He further encouraged Norway to continue cooperating with ASEAN on human rights, particularly on the rights of the child. Permanent Representative Servigon likewise suggested that Norway continue its engagement with the ASEAN Centre of Biodiversity, which is based in the Philippines, to further develop cooperation on biodiversity and the environment. He also proposed that Norway consider supporting ASEAN in Technical and Vocational Education and Training.

ASEAN Member States and Norway conveyed their respective priorities for further cooperation between ASEAN and Norway in areas such as trade and investment; supply chain resilience; digital economy, micro, small and medium enterprises; sustainable oceans; public health cooperation; climate change; smart cities; educational and cultural exchanges; and sustainable development, among others.

ASEAN Member States and Norway also exchanged views on the progress of the implementation of the 5-point consensus in Myanmar, and the situation in Ukraine, including its effects on the global economy.

The meeting is an opportunity for ASEAN and Norway to promote mutually beneficial cooperation and engage in dialogue on important regional and international issues. END.