(Eagle News)–President Rodrigo Duterte is now in Bangkok, Thailand to attend the 35th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit and Related Summits.
The President arrived at the Royal Thai Air Force Base at 8:30 pm (Bangkok time) to begin his four-day visit.
Welcoming the President upon his arrival were Philippine Ambassador to Thailand Mary Jo A. Bernardo-Aragon, Chief of Presidential Protocol and Presidential Assistant on Foreign Affairs Robert E.A. Borje, Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul, and the host nation’s Deputy Chief of Protocol.
In a statement, the Palace said in Bangkok, the President shall join ASEAN and other dialogue partners “to advance ASEAN’s community-building agenda aimed at ensuring greater peace, security, and prosperity in the Asia Pacific.”
The Palace said the President and his counterparts “will explore ways to further promote inclusive and sustainable development and address the challenges posed by climate change, marine pollution and other environmental issues,” and discuss “trade tensions, geopolitical shifts and the Fourth Industrial Revolution..”
“Developments in the South China Sea, and other security concerns particularly terrorism, illicit drug trafficking and other transnational crimes will also be addressed,” the Palace said.
The Palace added ASEAN shall have “one-on-one” summits with China, India, the United States, Japan and the United Nations “to examine the current status and future direction of dialogue.”
The President is also expected to attend the ASEAN Plus Three Summit with other ASEAN leaders to discuss strategic issues affecting the region’s security and growth prospects.