DFA chief urges fellow ministers to sustain cooperation, design prosperous future for ASEAN

Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro encouraged fellow ministers to continue cooperating with each other, stressing that it is no longer just a choice, but a necessity. In her remarks at the opening ceremony of the 59th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on Tuesday, July 21, Lazaro cited the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia as the regional bloc’s “most reliable anchor” in the last 50 years. She stressed that mutual respect for sovereignty, non-interference, and the peaceful settlement of disputes “remain the bedrock of our regional stability, ensuring our code of conduct that stands strong against shifting global winds.” “We must continue this journey together, because cooperation is no longer a choice—it is a strategic necessity,” Lazaro said. “In a fractured global landscape, no single nation can weather these storms alone. Our strength and resilience lie in our community,” Lazaro told her counterparts. She emphasized that acting together is ASEAN’s shield against external pressures and engine for regional stability. “If we do not move forward as one, we risk being pulled apart,” she said. The Foreign Affairs chief also encouraged her fellow ministers to “consciously design” a prosperous and secure future for the region, underscoring that “we hold the ultimate responsibility to define the destiny of our peoples.” “Today, the future is not something that simply happens to us; it is a space we must consciously design—ensuring a region that remains prosperous, secure, and centered on the inspirations of our peoples,” Lazaro said. “Without a doubt, the work before us in the coming days will be highly consequential. To deliver on this immense responsibility, our discussions demand our utmost openness, flexibility, and principled dialogue,” she added. The secretary further told her counterparts that the future of the region “will be shaped by the choices we make here this week.”