March 13, New Delhi – Philippine Trade Secretary Cristina Roque highlighted on Friday that the conflict in West Asia demonstrates the deep interconnectedness of the global economy, with geopolitical tensions causing immediate economic shocks.
Speaking at an ASEAN economic ministers' meeting in Manila, Roque emphasized that the focus is on strengthening regional resilience and deepening integration, enabling the Southeast Asian bloc to navigate global changes with coordination and foresight rather than merely reacting.
The Philippines, serving as ASEAN chair this year, is hosting the meetings as officials assess the impacts of rising oil prices and disruptions to shipping, logistics, and trade flows across the region's export-dependent economies.