President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, in his speech during the opening of the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay City on November 13, 2017. FILE PHOTO / ALBERT ALCAIN / MALACANANG PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte will join the virtual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) from November 12 to 15, Malacañang said Wednesday.
“He [Duterte] will advance Philippine positions on public health emergency cooperation, regional economic integration, migrant workers’ rights, climate change, disaster risk reduction management, counter-terrorism, and the South China Sea issue,” a Palace statement said.
Duterte will also discuss with his counterparts the region’s COVID-19 response and recovery efforts, including the Asean community building, and regional and international developments, it added.
Vietnam will host the online summit with the theme “Cohesive and Responsive Asean.”
The summit is expected to adopt more than 10 outcome documents on Asean cooperation regarding the pandemic, preparedness for public health emergencies, and more.