Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 8) — President Rodrigo Duterte is set to leave on May 10 for a six-day visit to Cambodia, Hong Kong, and China.
In a pre-departure briefing, Acting Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Robespierre Bolivar said that Duterte will attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Cambodia to make a pitch for his economic agenda, as current chair of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).
According to Bolivar, the President will report to the WEF progress in the ASEAN Economic Community after the 30th ASEAN Summit.
“The leaders welcomed the ASEAN Economic Community’s thrust to pursue three strategic measures, namely: increasing trade and investment; integrating micro, small and medium enterprises in the digital economy; and developing an innovation-driven economy and to reduce trade transaction costs by 10 percent by 2020,” Bolivar said.
More than 700 leaders from business, government and civil society groups are expected to participate in the WEF.
From Cambodia, the President will fly to Hong Kong on May 11 for a three-day visit.
Duterte will meet the community of around 210,000 Filipinos working and staying in Hong Kong according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.
“The Filipino community in Hong Kong has been actively partnering with our Consulate General in ensuring the rights and welfare of our kababayans in Hong Kong are protected and promoted and the community has also been instrumental in promoting enhanced trade relations between the Philippines and Hong Kong and in promoting our country’s investment opportunities and tourist destinations,” Bolivar said.
The President heads to Beijing, China on May 14 to 15 to participate in the Belt and Road Forum (BRF) for International Cooperation.
Duterte is among 28 heads of state expected to attend the forum, along with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.
“The topics they are expected to discuss include: infrastructure connectivity; economic and trade cooperation; industrial investment; energy and resources; financial support; people-to-people exchanges; ecological and environmental protection; and marine cooperation,” says Bolivar.
Bolivar said bilateral meetings between President Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping and other leaders are still being “worked out” on his trip to China.
Bolivar also said he is uncertain if territorial disputes in the South China Sea will be discussed in those possible meetings.
CNN Philippines Correspondent Ina Andolong contributed to this report.
