Latest news with #–GulfCooperationCouncil
GMA Network
24-06-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Palestine envoy urges PH to ask Israel to resolve Gaza crisis
Palestine's Ambassador to the Philippines Mounir Anastas on Tuesday urged the Philippines to convince Israel to resolve the humanitarian crisis in war-torn Gaza. Speaking to GMA Integrated News' Pia Arcangel, Anastas said the Philippines should ''apply some pressure'' so that Israel ''respects the humanitarian question in Gaza especially, and in the West Bank as well.'' ''In any case, we are really thankful for the President and the government, since they made several statements asking for a ceasefire and for humanitarian aid to arrive in Gaza. So, the Philippines is doing its best,'' he said in a report on ''24 Oras.'' At the 2nd ASEAN–Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit in Malaysia on May 27, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed concern over Israel's military operations across the Gaza Strip, "which have resulted in the continued rise of the death of civilians, including women and children, and further exacerbating the dire humanitarian situation on the ground." Marcos said the Philippines urged all parties to adhere to their obligations under international law, ''with particular emphasis on the protection of civilians, especially women and children, and the facilitation of humanitarian assistance to all those who are in need.'' ''Everybody was asking Israel for the ceasefire first and to allow the humanitarian aid to arrive to the population while Israel was using food and water as weapon,'' Anastas said. ''It is not only against international humanitarian law but it is also completely immoral, it is inhuman, it is unacceptable.'' Anastas also commented on the fighting between Israel and Iran. "There's the question, why now? Why [did] Israel attack Iran right now, knowing that [for] decades [Israeli] Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu was always saying Iran was too close to having or possessing nuclear weapons?'' he said. ''The attack came only two days before the meeting scheduled between the US and Iran for the [nuclear] negotiations.'' Iran has always said its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. The war in Gaza has raged since 2023 after Hamas militants killed 1,200 people in Israel in an October 7 attack and took some 250 hostages back to the enclave, according to Israeli tallies. Many of those killed or captured were civilians. Israel responded with a military campaign that has killed over 54,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities. Earlier this month, the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly demanded an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in the war in Gaza and aid access. The UN has long endorsed a vision of two states living side by side within secure and recognized borders. Palestinians want a state in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza Strip, all territory captured by Israel in a 1967 war with neighboring Arab states. ''Is it viable still? Yes, it is, even if it is weakened,'' Anastas said. ''There is a need to have a change within Israel with such a government. Of course, it wouldn't work since they declared very clearly they are opposed to such a solution.'' ''Second thing, it's not only freezing the settlements, but also having the solution to take all settlers back to Israel,'' he said. — with Reuters/VBL, GMA Integrated News
Borneo Post
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Anwar reaffirms ASEAN's balanced engagement with major powers
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim chairs the 2nd ASEAN–Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. – Bernama photo KUALA LUMPUR (May 27): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today reaffirmed that ASEAN remains committed to maintaining balanced and constructive engagement with all major powers, amid perceptions of the regional bloc's deepening ties with China. He noted that the regional bloc remains committed to balanced engagement with all major powers based on its principle of centrality. 'There's been this perception all along. That's why I made it clear in my original statement to ASEAN leaders that following the recommendations by the foreign ministers during their first meeting in January in Langkawi (Malaysia), ASEAN will continue to engage both the United States and China, as well as other countries,' he said. Anwar said this in response to a question on whether ASEAN's expanding cooperation with China suggests a strategic tilt, during the wrap-up press conference of the 46th ASEAN Summit at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC). Malaysia hosted the summit under its ASEAN 2025 Chairmanship, with the overarching theme 'ASEAN Matters: Inclusivity and Sustainability'. The two-day summit also saw the participation of ASEAN leaders and representatives from key dialogue partners in two high-level meetings — the 2nd ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit and the inaugural ASEAN-GCC-China Summit — aimed at expanding regional and inter-regional cooperation. Anwar added that the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit should not be viewed as evidence of a pivot to Beijing. He said he had formally written to President Donald Trump to express ASEAN's agreement to proceed with a United States-ASEAN Summit, as proposed by the bloc's foreign ministers. 'I don't think it's tilting in any way. If tomorrow I receive a letter from President Trump saying, yes, we'll have a summit (but) not in June, that's too soon, but in the next few months, we don't have a problem,' he said. Anwar also reiterated that ASEAN's position remains rooted in its centrality and people-focused agenda, which prioritises the welfare and well-being of its citizens through economic relations, trade and investment. 'So if it means working with the Chinese, yes, we'll do it. With the United States, yes, we have to,' he said, noting that Malaysia, in particular, has emerged as a hub for semiconductors, with over 60 per cent of related exports going to the United States. 'It makes a lot of sense to continue to engage and have reasonably good relations (with any countries),' he added. – Bernama anwar ibrahim Asean Summit major bloc power balance
GMA Network
27-05-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
Marcos on trade between ASEAN, GCC: Go beyond traditional patterns
KUALA LUMPUR — President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. said Tuesday that ASEAN's current trade patterns with Gulf nations have remained limited, noting the need to go beyond the traditional trade. ''While there is strong potential, it is also clear that our current trade patterns remain limited in scope and concentrated in a narrow band of sectors. To unlock the full promise of our partnership, we must go beyond traditional trade and leverage our complementary strengths,'' Marcos said during the 2nd ASEAN – Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit. ''ASEAN, with its rapidly growing digital economy and youthful, tech-savvy population, can partner with the GCC, whose strengths in energy, investment capital, and logistics infrastructure are meeting globally,'' he added. Marcos sees strong potential in expanding collaboration in halal trade and standard harmonization, where both ASEAN and GCC can lead globally. ''ASEAN's diverse halal food industry, coupled with the GCC's established halal consumer base and certification systems, create an opportunity to build a seamless, trusted halal value chain,'' he said. The GCC is an important region for the Philippines on the aspect of labor mobility, where more than 2.7 million citizens from ASEAN member states and more than two million of whom are overseas Filipino workers, according to Marcos. ''They contribute significantly not only to the economies of their host countries, but also to those in the Philippines and the wider ASEAN region,'' Marcos said. He said it is important for both regions to continue to provide upskilling opportunities and ensure the protection and promotion of their rights and their welfare. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
