RIYADH — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed his deep concern over the rising number of victims and the safety of those affected by the Israel-Hamas conflict.

In his intervention during the 1st ASEAN-GCC Summit here on Friday, Marcos said that "all parties (should) exert their utmost efforts to deescalate the situation, stop all violence and engage in dialogue and diplomacy."

He called on members of the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to work together in promoting peace, security and stability in the South China Sea and the Arabian Sea.

Marcos also underscored the importance of cooperation between member countries of the two regional groups to ensure continued prosperity.

"As the two regional organizations located astride the major sea gates and vital corridors of the world's commerce and communications, it is imperative that we work together to promote peace, security, and stability in both our regions, the South China Sea, and the Arabian Sea, grounded on the rules-based international order to ensure stability and prosperity of our countries and the rest of the world," he said.

"Peace and stability are indispensable to ensuring continued prosperity in our respective regions and of the world," he added.

The six GCC member countries are Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates while the 10 ASEAN member countries are Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Marcos attended the ASEAN-GCC Summit where he discussed business opportunities in the Philippines and urged investors to invest in the Maharlika Investment Fund, among other significant developments in the Philippines.