Manila, May 27 -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday called on the members of the Association Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to strengthen their collaboration on digital and halal trade.

During the 2nd ASEAN-GCC Summit at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre in Malaysia, Marcos said the strategic importance of ASEAN-GCC relations on the economic front cannot be overstated, citing that the two regions are "rich in natural and human capital, bound by shared aspirations for prosperity and sustainable development."

"While there is strong potential, it is also clear that our current trade patterns remain limited in scope, concentrated in a narrow band of sectors. To unlock the full promise of o...