The activities for the 30th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit and related meetings, the first international event that President Rodrigo Duterte is hosting, kicked off in Metro Manila on Wednesday (April 26), as the Philippines seeks to strengthen the regional bloc and promote it as a global player.
Save for Myanmar, whose delegation will be led by State Counsellor and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs Aung San Suu Kyi, the heads of the state of the Asean members will be in the country.
The summit will tackle pressing regional issues, including the South China Sea dispute.
The Philippines is seeking to complete this year the framework for a code of conduct in the South China Sea between Asean and China.
The Philippines’ hosting of the summit focuses on peace and stability in the region, maritime security and cooperation, inclusive innovation-led growth, the promotion of Asean’s resiliency, and Asean as a model of regionalism and a global player, and having a people-oriented and people-centered Asean.
The four-day summit and related meetings, which also marks Asean’s 50th year, will culminate in Duterte’s meeting with the regional bloc’s leaders on Saturday (April 29).
The events began on Wednesday with a meeting of Asean’s permanent representatives and a welcome dinner for senior officials and delegates.
On Thursday (April 27), the preparatory meetings of the Asean senior officials, and of the BIMP-EAGA Senior Officials will be held.
BIMP-EAGA stands for Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines-East Asean Growth Area, a subregional economic bloc that seeks to increase trade, tourism, and investment among its members.
A welcome dinner for the Asean foreign ministers is also scheduled for this day.
On Friday, there will be a Prosperity for All Summit which will end with a networking dinner.
The Asean foreign ministers will also hold their meeting on this day.
The 15th Asean Political-Security Community Council Meeting, the 9th Asean Coordinating Council Meeting, and the 14th Asean Leadership Forum will take place as well.
The senior officials of the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth-Triangle (IMT-GT) will also gather on this day.
On Saturday, the Asean leaders are expected to arrive for the opening ceremony of the 30th Asean summit at the Philippine International Convention Center.
The 30th Asean summit plenary will follow, and the leaders will take their traditional family photo.
After lunch, there will be a retreat followed by a signing ceremony.
The Asean leaders will also meet with representatives of the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly and of the Asean Youth.
The summits of the BIMP-EAGA and the IMT-GT will also take place this day.
A new conference will be held at the end of the 30th Asean Summit, followed by a gala dinner.
Duterte will also be receiving Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Malacañang because their Philippine trips would will be state visits as well.
Widodo is scheduled to visit Davao on Sunday for the Davao-General Santos-Bitung Asean RORO (roll on-roll off) route. /atm