GYEONGJU, South Korea — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged Asia-Pacific leaders to uphold open trade, strengthen regional cooperation, and ensure that economic growth remains inclusive and sustainable as he delivered his intervention during the first session of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting on Friday.

Speaking before fellow heads of state at the Hwabaek Convention Center, Marcos called for the restoration of the World Trade Organization’s dispute settlement mechanism, saying that smaller economies rely on a rules-based system to compete fairly.

“Without a functioning dispute settlement mechanism, small economies would be at a disadvantage. For small economies, rules are a potent equalizer,” Marcos said.

He also pressed APEC members to advance “new and forward-looking disciplines” to boost trade in the digital era, support e-commerce, and modernize investment regulations.

On sustainability, Marcos emphasized the need to push agriculture and fisheries negotiations to strengthen food security and ensure that trade remains a driver of shared progress. He said the Philippines supports reforms that would make supply chains more resilient through digitalization, regulatory efficiency, and workforce upskilling.

The President also highlighted the role of public-private partnerships (PPP) in advancing APEC’s sustainability and infrastructure goals, citing the Philippine PPP Code of 2023 as a model for regional collaboration.

“This landmark legislation embodies our commitment to creating an enabling environment where private enterprises can actively contribute to development,” Marcos said.

Marcos further urged APEC economies to invest in women, youth, and MSMEs, noting that closing the gender gap and empowering small businesses are critical to regional prosperity.

He expressed support for APEC’s new initiatives, including the “Incheon Plan,” which builds on the Philippines’ Cebu Action Plan of 2015, to promote innovation, fiscal stability, and climate resilience.

“The Philippines stands ready to work with all APEC economies to uphold an open, connected, and future-ready region,” Marcos said.

The two-day summit, themed “Building a Sustainable Tomorrow: Connect, Innovate, Prosper,” gathers leaders of 21 APEC economies to discuss digital transformation, trade, and economic resilience.