ASEAN advances connectivity agenda at High-Level Conference on ASEAN Connectivity

August 26, 2026

PASAY CITY, 26 August 2026 — Regional leaders and key stakeholders convened in Pasay City, at the High-Level Conference on ASEAN Connectivity, themed ‘’From Strategy to Delivery: Implementing the ASEAN Connectivity Strategic Plan 2026-2035.’’

Organised by the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines and the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), the conference served as a platform for substantive discussions on cross-sectoral alignment under the new ASEAN Connectivity Strategic Plan (ACSP).

The opening session featured remarks from Tetsuya Watanabe, President of ERIA, followed by keynote remarks by Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, and Hon. Dr Arsenio M. Balisacan, Secretary of the Department of Economy, Planning and Development of the Philippines. Masato Kanda, President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), delivered a special address on mobilising finance and partnerships for ASEAN’s future.

In their keynote remarks, Secretary Lazaro and Hon. Dr Balisacan highlighted the shift from strategy to delivery, the need to strengthen both hard and soft infrastructure, and the importance of assessing connectivity by the outcomes it creates for people and businesses rather than by the infrastructure built.

The conference featured distinguished panellists from government, industry, private sector, and think tanks. Participants comprised representatives of ASEAN Member States, ASEAN Dialogue Partners, Sectoral Dialogue Partners, Development Partners, international organisations, and the business community, among others.

Discussions focused on two key areas: (i) energy connectivity for economic resilience and the operationalisation of the ASEAN Power Grid (APG); and (ii) sustainable future-proofing of ASEAN’s supply chains and infrastructure.

As the ACSP enters its first year of implementation, the High-Level Conference on ASEAN Connectivity reinforces ASEAN’s commitment in advancing the ASEAN Connectivity agenda.