MANILA, Philippines—President Rodrigo Duterte arrived Manila on Monday night after participating in the 35th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit and Related Summits in Bangkok, Thailand.
The biannual meeting from November 2 to 4 gathered leaders of the regional bloc for discussions on key issues focused on further promoting inclusive and sustainable development and address the challenges posed by the territorial dispute in the South China Sea, climate change, marine pollution, and other environmental issues.
The Asean leaders also discussed economic items which include the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
During the meeting, Duterte said the Philippines, as country coordinator of the ASEAN-China Dialogue, will do its “utmost to conclude negotiations on a code of conduct (COC) as soon as possible.”
On Monday, Duterte and some of Asean leaders skipped the Asean meeting with the United States.
Only Laos Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Thailand Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who chairs this year’s Asean, were the heads of state who attended the Asean-US Summit.
US President Donald Trump skipped the 35th Asean Summit and Related Summits and was represented by national security adviser Robert O’Brien.
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Duterte also skipped the RCEP meeting and the Asean Summit closing ceremony on Monday evening.
Malacañang has yet to explain Duterte’s absence in the said events.
RCEP is a mega trade deal among the 10-member states of Asean and its six trading partner countries – Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea. /gsg