Duterte arrived in Brunei for a three-day official visit and will hold talks with Sultan Bolkiah on bilateral and international issues. / AFP PHOTO / Brunei Informations Department / STR /
(Eagle News) — Brunei’s Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah officially welcomed Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday (October 17) at the Istana Nurul Iman, the official residence of the Sultan and the seat of government of Brunei.
This was followed by a bilateral meeting between the two leaders.
Included in the itinerary is a state dinner at the Royal Banquet Hall in the Sultan’s residence.
President Duterte said that his visit to Brunei was important as this would strengthen ties between the Philippines and Brunei, both members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) which will be celebrating its 50th anniversary next year, 2017. The Philippines is set to host the historic ASEAN Summit next year.
The two leaders are expected to talk about recent regional developments and explore areas of cooperation in trade and investment, and defense and security.
The President said he would also seek collaborative efforts in the government’s anti-illegal drug campaign, and in initiatives that would promote lasting peace in southern Philippines.
After President Duterte’s visit to Brunei, he will proceed to China for an official state visit. He is scheduled to leave for China on Tuesday, October 18, and will be there until October 21.
The President earlier said that he would raise a controversial arbitral ruling on the South China Sea with China’s leaders, and vowed not to surrender any sovereignty or deviate from the July award by the tribunal in The Hague.
Duterte said his trip to China this week represented a turning point in bilateral ties, but he acknowledged there was some public concern about his rapid rapprochement moves and reassured Filipinos that would not impact on the country’s maritime sovereignty.
In comments that will not sit comfortably with the Chinese leadership, Duterte said the decision by the Permanent Court of Arbitration would be talked about and the parameters of the award would be discussed, but there would be no “hard imposition” of it
He said that he would not “barter” away territory and economic rights ahead of a visit to Beijing, where he hopes to mend ties frayed by a row over the South China Sea.
Duterte will head to Beijing on Tuesday and will be bringing along a large business delegation in a bid to secure Chinese investment as relations sour between Manila and its traditional ally the United States. (with reports from Reuters, Agence France Presse)
