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Anna Rosario Malindog-Uy, vice president of the Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute, noted that amid the current crisis in the Middle East, this ASEAN summit is a very important meeting. She believes that in the face of the current geopolitical and economic crisis, China serves as a "short-term lifeblood" for ASEAN countries in terms of energy and food. China offers the "Global South," including the Philippines, a different model for development and progress from that of the West. Many countries look to China as a source of inspiration for development and a model of progress.

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