President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Wednesday that the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) must take a "decisive" and "responsive" approach regarding the geopolitical and geo-economic challenges.

Marcos acknowledged during his speech at the Interface of Southeast Asian Leaders with the High-Level Task Force on the ASEAN Community's Post-2025 Vision (HLTF-ACV) that the regional bloc is currently facing a "complex geopolitical environment" that includes rivalries among great powers, climate change, and technological disruptions.

According to Marcos, the Southeast Asian region must demonstrate to the rest of the world that it can "respond effectively to geopolitical and geo-economic challenges as a cohesive force."

He emphasized that the regional grouping would only be able to address geopolitical and geoeconomic concerns if it became the "master of its future."

The chief executive pointed out that since ASEAn adapts to the diverse and meaningful interventions needed for the "complex challenges of the times," it must be agile.

Southeast Asian leaders, according to Marcos, must work to improve the region's well-being.

Marcos stated that the Philippines will continue to emphasize the importance of strengthening the region's institutions, improving current ASEAN platforms such as the East Asia Summit, and streamlining processes in order to achieve actual outcomes.