The Philippines, represented by Under Secretary Paul Vincent Uy of the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Office of International Economic Relations, and Philippine Ambassador to Bangladesh Leo Tito Ausan, Jr., participated in the concluded 6th Indian Ocean Conference (IOC 2023), held at the Intercontinental Hotel-Dhaka from 12 to 13 May 2023.
Under Secretary Uy was one of the speakers at the fourth plenary session of the Conference, which also featured speakers from the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the United States and the heads of regional organizations such as the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation.
During his presentation, Under Secretary Uy highlighted the Philippines’ priorities and commitments in the maritime space and stated that the theme of the conference, “Peace, Prosperity and Partnership for a Resilient Future”, resonates deeply with the Philippine government and people. .
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He shared some of the steps taken by the Philippines to address biodiversity loss and fisheries depletion and other non-traditional threats, ensure food security, protect marine environments, and sustainably use marine resources. The Philippines, he stressed, aligns with the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and recognizes the centrality of ASEAN as the underlying principle for promoting cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
It further stated that as a member of ASEAN, the Philippines upholds the primacy of international maritime law, especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), in the management and resolution of marine disputes and the facilitation of cooperative action. to promote maritime safety and protect the marine environment.
The Philippines upholds the primacy of international maritime law, especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
Under Secretary Uy reiterated the Philippines’ readiness to enhance and forge stronger and more effective partnerships in the region to address common challenges and ensure that the oceans remain zones of peace and prosperity now and in the future.
