Vietnam PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc arrives in Clark for Asean Summit

Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xyan Phuc landed at Clark International Airport for the Asean Summit. FRANCES MANGOSING/INQUIRER.net

CLARK FREEPORT — The plane carrying Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc landed at Clark International Airport past 4 p.m. for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit.

Vietnam hosted the recently concluded Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) in Da Nang, where most leaders of Asean and regional partners also attended.

Leading the welcome to the prime minister was National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon.

Both the Philippines and Vietnam are claimants of the disputed South China Sea, along with China, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan. As the Philippines’ ties turned warmer with China when President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office last year, Vietnam became the main challenger of China in the region.

The South China Sea issue is among the topics likely to be discussed in the meetings of world leaders.

All leaders arriving in Clark Airport were welcomed with a traditional dance performance by hundreds of students from Pampanga and Bulacan.

The Philippines is this year’s host of the Asean, which is celebrating its 50th founding anniversary. /je