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Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha visited the Philippines again on Friday, this time to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit.
READ: PH, Thailand boost defense, security ties
Prayut arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) at 3 p.m. and was welcomed by government officials.
He will be meeting Duterte and other Asean leaders on Saturday for the 30th Asean Summit.
Duterte recently visited Thailand and discussed defense and terrorism with Prayut. The two heads of state signed three bilateral agreements on science and technology, tourism and agriculture.
READ: Duterte accorded official welcome at Thailand Government House
Among the things that Duterte and Prayut agreed on was the need to complete the framework for the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, one of the expected results of the Asean Summit later this year.
Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha (C) waves upon his arrival at Manila’s international airport on April 28, 2017 to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Manila, where leaders will discuss territorial disputes, terrorism and economic integration, takes place in the Philippine capital on April 28-29. / AFP PHOTO / MOHD RASFAN
READ: Duterte, Thai PM push for sea code completion
A number of Asean member states, including the Philippines, have overlapping claims with China on parts of the South China Sea.
Thailand is not a claimant state but during Duterte’s visit to Thailand, Prayut said international laws must be observed in disputed territories.
“We both also stressed the need to maintain peace and stability in the region, including the South China Sea,” Duterte said during his visit to Thailand in March. “We recognized both that respect for freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea is in the interest of all countries within or outside the region.”
READ: Duterte, Thai PM push for sea code completion
The Philippines is the chairman and host of this year’s Asean Summit. IDL/rga