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Philippines' President Ferdinand Marcos Jr attends the 28th ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Summit during the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Kuala Lumpur on October 27, 2025. Vincent Thian, Pool / AFP

Philippines' President Ferdinand Marcos Jr attends the 28th ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Summit during the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Kuala Lumpur on October 27, 2025. (Photo by Vincent Thian / POOL / AFP)

Article (news)

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176154604106620251027-marcos-47th-asean-mtg-AFP.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Philippines&#x27; President Ferdinand Marcos Jr attends the 28th ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Summit during the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Kuala Lumpur on October 27, 2025. Vincent Thian, Pool / AFP </div>KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recognized South Korea as a ‘valued partner’ in advancing ASEAN’s priorities in key areas such as maritime cooperation and trade and investment, among others.In his intervention at the 26th ASEAN-Republic of Korea Summit on Monday, October 27, Marcos welcomed the launch of the negotiations to upgrade the ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Area. The President said this was a “timely step” in strengthening ASEAN-Korea economic ties amid a rapidly changing global economy.“The review of the AKFTA is an important signal of our shared determination to keep markets open and to push back against growing protectionist tendencies in the global economy,” he said.“By doing so, we reaffirm ASEAN and Korea’s commitment to transparency, fairness, and cooperation in trade,” the Philippine president added.He also acknowledged the East Asian country’s initiatives in the regional bloc, such as cybersecurity, disaster management, support to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and maritime cooperation, which, in his view, is “essential to regional peace and stability, sustainable development, and shared prosperity”.“In this regard, we recognize the Republic of Korea [ROK] as a valued partner in advancing ASEAN’s maritime priorities, anchored on a rules-based international order and UNCLOS,” he added.Marcos also noted that he is looking forward to co-chairing with South Korea and the United States the ASEAN Regional Forum Workshop on Best Practices for Port State Measures to Combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing. “I am confident that ASEAN and the ROK will continue to work together to advance peace, prosperity, and security in our region because we are guided by a common goal of uplifting the lives of our peoples,” he concluded.

The President said this was a “timely step” in strengthening ASEAN-Korea economic ties amid a rapidly changing global economy.

The President said this was a “timely step” in strengthening ASEAN-Korea economic ties amid a rapidly changing global economy.

Marcos says free trade talks with South Korea a ‘pushback’ vs global protectionism

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Marcos says free trade talks with South Korea a ‘pushback’ vs global protectionism

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published Oct 27, 2025 02:07 PM PHT

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Updated Oct 27, 2025 02:21 PM PHT

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Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

ASEAN Summit

Philippines

South Korea

free trade

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