SFA Locsin urges Asean, UK to boost cooperation in climate-change action; Covid response, recovery
SECRETARY of Foreign Affairs (SFA) Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. joined foreign ministers and top representatives of the region’s memberstates, the Asean secretary-general and United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab at the Asean-uk Open-ended Troika Dialogue.
The meeting via video conference on April 8 saw exchanges of views on ways of enhancing cooperation in tackling socioeconomic challenges caused by the pandemic, starting on the path to sustainable recovery, as well as advancing climate-change priorities.
The foreign ministers recognized the importance of rebuilding sustainable, green and resilient economies, as well as fostering fruitful and substantive means of cooperation between Asean and the UK in tackling climate change.
Locsin shared that, despite initial setbacks in securing vaccine supplies for the Philippines, vaccine czar Carlito G. Galvez Jr. has already secured firm commitments from suppliers for several million doses of the vaccine to be delivered in time for the subsequent phases of the country’s vaccine-rollout plans. The SFA also shared the progress of the government’s negotiation with the Russian Federation on securing Gamaleya vaccines.
On climate change, the secretary called for more decisive action to resolve climate change, and urged Asean member-states and the UK to deliver on their respective countries’ commitments to the Paris Agreement—particularly on deep and drastic cuts in carbon emissions. He also emphasized the connection between climate change and the prevalence of zoonotic disease outbreaks, aside from other drivers such as global warming and biodiversity degradation.
As president of the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties, or COP26, scheduled in Glasgow, Scotland this November, the UK plays a pivotal role in leading high-level discussions in transitioning to green and sustainable practices toward achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
On Myanmar, Locsin expressed the Philippines’s concern over the latest developments: “We are closely following the situation, especially the recent escalation of [the former’s army’s] action, leading to the rising number of deaths among peaceful protesters.” He urged security forces to exercise restraint and refrain from using excessive force against unarmed demonstrators, as he called once more for the return to the status quo ante—the full restoration of the previously existing state of affairs in Myanmar. The secretary also called for the immediate release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other political detainees.
Member-states are currently studying the UK’S application to become a dialogue-partner of Asean.