Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday emphasized the importance of collective effort in sustaining lasting peace and cooperation among Southeast Asian nations and their partners.

According to Philippines News Agency, Marcos hosted a gala dinner at Malaca±an Palace in Manila for visiting foreign ministers who joined the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in Southeast Asia. The TAC was signed on February 24, 1976, in Bali, Indonesia, during the first ASEAN Summit by the five founding members - Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.

'The document signed that day was far more than just a treaty. It was a statement of confidence in our region's future, a conviction that despite our differences, Southeast Asia could build its security through mutual respect and cooperation,' Marcos said. He added that convening 'a community of nations' together is 'one of the most endearing legacies of the TAC.'

Earlier on Friday, four European nations - Sweden, Poland, Romania, and Lithuania - acceded to the TAC as new high contracting parties, reaffirming the pact's growing relevance as a cornerstone of peace, stability, and cooperation in the region. The TAC aims to promote perpetual peace, amity, and cooperation among Southeast Asian nations, guided by principles aligned with the United Nations charter.

Marcos expressed optimism that the gala dinner would serve as a reminder that every enduring partnership begins with a conversation, every lasting friendship with mutual trust, and every meaningful cooperation with a willingness to sit together, listen to one another, and seek common ground. 'Throughout the day, you have worked together in the spirit of cooperation. You exchanged views with candor, listened to one another with respect, and explored practical ways to strengthen the TAC in response to the challenges of our time,' he said.

Marcos stressed that enduring peace is 'never achieved by chance' but is 'built patiently, sustained collectively, and nurtured intently.' He expressed hope that the TAC's principles would translate into 'practical and mutually beneficial cooperation' in the region.

'Diplomacy, too, has always found its place around tables. Across generations, they have served as a marketplace of ideas for diplomats and policymakers. They have borne witness to exchanges of national statements, observed how consensus is reached, and have been among the first to witness landmark documents being signed,' he said. 'Upon these tables rests the agreements that shape economies, bolster relations amongst nations, deepen cultural understanding, and ultimately preserve peace.'

ASEAN member-states and their partners also convened for the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting; the Post-Ministerial Conferences; and Related Meetings, highlighting the regional bloc's enduring role in fostering dialogue and strengthening partnerships amid evolving regional and global challenges.