ASEAN must strengthen resilience against shocks from Middle East crisis, Philippine trade secretary says

MANILA — Philippine Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said on Friday the conflict in the Middle East underscores how deeply interconnected the global economy has become, with geopolitical tensions triggering immediate economic shocks.

Opening an ASEAN economic ministers’ meeting, she stressed that the goal is to strengthen regional resilience and deepen integration so the Southeast Asian bloc can navigate global shifts with coordination and foresight, rather than merely reacting to them. — Reuters