'Under the President's leadership, the DFA has steered the country's independent foreign policy based on our national interest, in cognizance of the interests we share with fellow nations, and in pursuit of peace, security and prosperity,' Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Antonio Morales said in his remarks during the forum on Wednesday.
He said the Asean brand of being open, transparent, inclusive and rules-based is consistent with the Philippine independent foreign policy of being a friend to all.In the same vein, Senate President Pro Tempore Lorna Regina 'Loren' Legarda on Friday called for reciprocity and mutual respect in upholding the rights of the Philippines over the West Philippine Sea disputes as constituted under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea seven years ago.