Duterte vows to advance PH dev’t goals as he leaves for Cambodia

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, in his speech at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on May 10, 2017 prior to his departure for his official visits to Cambodia and China and working visit to Hong Kong, reveals that he has signed the appointment of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano as the new Foreign Affairs Secretary. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

PHNOM PENH — President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday promised to advance economic goals and establish stronger ties in the Asia Pacific as he left for Cambodia.

Duterte will be in Cambodia, Hong Kong and Beijing for the next few days.

He will be attending the World Economic Forum on Asean in Phnom Penh as this year’s chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

“I am honored to join my fellow Asean leaders in articulating the interest of the 630 million Asean citizens in this forum,” he said during his departure speech.

Duterte said he will join the prime ministers of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam and they will share with the forum the highlights of the recently concluded 30th Asean Summit in Manila.

“We will have the opportunity to engage the larger region to discuss the common vision of Southeast Asia,” he said. “We will share our perspective on what still needs to be done and how we are going to achieve them as a united Asean region.”

The President said he will also show how governments and the private sector can work together to achieve shared goals.

“I will highlight our ‘Build, build, build’ program as a platform for private partnership for positive change,” he said.

In Hong Kong, Duterte will meet overseas Filipino workers.

“I will meet them in Hong Kong to let them know what your government is doing for you and what you can do to become even more productive partners for positive change in the country,” he said.

From Hong Kong, Duterte will proceed to Beijing for the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

He was invited by Chinese President Xi Jinping to the forum where he said he will explore opportunities for economic cooperation and other exchanges.

“We will use this forum to advance Philippine development goals,” he said, mentioning his meeting with the Chinese leader and the Mongolian Prime Minister.

“I am eager to engage with my counterparts to establish stronger ties of amity in the Asia Pacific,” Duterte said.

“In my engagement,  I will observe and expect full respect for sovereign equality. Only by doing so will we be able to advance our national interest and collectively push with our partners efforts to sustain growth, security and stability in the region,” he said.

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