Obama renews call for upholding human rights at Asean Summit

U.S. President Barack Obama. AP File Photo

VIENTIANE, Laos—US President Barack Obama on Thursday reiterated that countries in the Asia-Pacific region should promote respect for human rights, when he spoke before leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), some of whom are facing accusations of human rights violations.

In his opening speech at the Asean-US summit, Obama also maintained that maritime disputes over the South China Sea should be “resolved peacefully.”

“We have laid out a common vision for the region articulated in the Sunnylands Declaration: An open, dynamic and economically competitive Asia Pacific that respects human rights and upholds the law-based order,” Obama said.

“Today we can discuss further how we can advance that vision,” he said.

The much-anticipated meeting between the American leader and President Rodrigo Duterte did not happen as the latter skipped the mid-morning event for still unknown reason.

The President was also absent at the Asean-India conference held on the sidelines of the 28th and 29th Asean summits, which will conclude Thursday.

Washington  earlier scrapped the bilateral meeting between Obama and Duterte after the Philippine President hurled profanities at the US leader for his supposed plan to raise the issue of spiralling drug killings in the Philippines.

READ: Obama scraps meeting with Duterte — White House

The two briefly spoke before the gala dinner for Asean leaders on Wednesday night.

READ: Duterte, Obama briefly talk before ASEAN dinner

Without elaborating, Foreign Affairs spokesperson Charles Jose claimed the President was able to “iron out” the issue with Obama during their short conversion. RAM/rga

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