PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday said that the inaugural summit between Southeast Asian leaders and Gulf states will help boost efforts to address energy and food security in the region.

Marcos, before leaving for Saudi Arabia, said the 2023 Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit (Asean-GCC) will serve as an important platform for the Philippines to highlight the need for cooperation in energy and food security, logistics, supply chains, digital information, free flow of goods, people and services, and enhancement and protection of rights of our overseas workers.