East Asia leaders discuss migration, environment, armed conflict issues

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Ezra ACAYAN

Leaders of East Asian nations tackled issues on migration, environmental degradation and armed conflict in the region during the 12th East Asia Summit on Tuesday.

“We wish to inform that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte as Chair of the Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)-East Summit cited the effects of migration, environmental degradation and armed conflict in the region have global repercussions,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.

The discussion among the leaders also touched on the impact of climate change and the spread of terrorism and violent extremism, Roque said.

“PRRD likewise discussed the East Asia Summit with Asean as a mechanism by which strategic dialogues and cooperation could be established at the highest level,” he added.

The said issues were also mentioned by the President during his opening remarks at the summit.

Duterte reiterated that the summit would be an avenue for strategic dialogues.

“This East Asia Summit with Asean at the helm is a mechanism by which strategic dialogues in the evolving regional security architecture takes place,” he said.

“Cooperation established at the highest level will impact our pursuit of maintaining peace, security and prosperity of our regions,” he added.

The annual summit was attended by heads of states from Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, China, India,  Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Laos, Myanmar, New Zealand, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam.

United States President Donald Trump was also invited but he left the country prior the East Asia Summit and the end of the 31st Asean Summit due to delays in the schedule.

The East Asia Summit was originally scheduled at 1:30 p.m. but it started late around 3:30 p.m.

“Yes EAS was supposed to be at 1:30 p.m. I believe he (Trump) was scheduled to leave at 3:00 p.m. and did so,” Roque said. /je