Manila, July 3 -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday emphasized the importance of global interdependence to ensure countries' stability and development amid geopolitical challenges.

During his meeting with the Philippines-Japan Economic Cooperation Committee (PHILJEC) and the 14th Asian Business Summit (ABS) delegates at Malacanan Palace in Manila, Marcos said the nations' mutual reliance is currently being challenged because of the recent global developments.

"There cannot be any more powerful destabilizing forces than we see now. We see war. We see climate change also changing everything," he said.

"What we have just experienced, at least, changes now in trade policy, not only with the United States, the largest economy st...